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YE GODS 
AND LITTLE 
FISHES 



ye GODS 
BDD LIUULG 

Fisngs 

H URHV€sugonufie hrgo- 

1^ DHaCIC€SP€dIGIODIDC^€SG 

OF un€ GOLden FLeecej^ 



James of. 'Her?shaUMD. 




cinciDDHtri:MDcc cc 
^he'^SertClarkeCompan^ 



f£^^:^ 



CopyriQ;ht, 1900, by 

JAMKS A. IIENSHAI.I. 



IUibrapy of Congr«»«i 
Iwo Copies Received 1 
DEC 19 1900 

-^ Copyright «ntry 

SECOND COPY 

0««v«red to 

ORDER DIVISION 
JAN S 1901 



/ 9 oo 



No 



L 



I'KP.SS OKTHK ROBKRT CLARKE 
COiMPANY. CINCINNATI, U. S. A. 



<:i» 
^ 



TO 

ADMIRAL GEORGE DEWEY 

in remembrance of the pleasant 

days spent in his company on the 

sunny shores of Greece 

this travesty on the first 

Great Naval Expedition 

is respectfully inscribed 

by 

THE AUTHOR 




In this travesty of the Quest of the Golden Fleece I 
have followed the route, and noted the incidents, as re- 
corded in *^The Argfonautica *' of ApoIIonius Rhodius, 
and as translated into English prose by Edward P. Cole- 
ridge, B.A., Oxford, England, from the revised text of 
R. Merkel, from the Laurentian MS. (Leipzig, \^52, 
Teubner^s small edition.) 

For the anachronisms, pseudo-poetics and mock- 
heroics (for which I have obtained a special mechanical 
license), and other absurdities, I must alone be held re- 
sponsible and amenable to a patient and long-suffering 
public. 

Bozemarif Montana, 

(vii) 



THE AUTHOR. 



THE ARGUMENT OF THE ^'ARGONAUTICA/^ 

Tyro, the daughter of Salmoncus, had two sons by 
Poseidon, Neleus and Pelias; she afterwards wedded 
Cretheus, son of -^olus, and bore to him -/Eson, Pheres, 
and Amythaon. From ^son sprang Jason; from 
Pheres, Admetus ? from Amythaon, Mclampus. 

Now Jason was handed over to the Centaur Chiron 
to be brought up and to learn the art of healing ; while 
^son, his father, left the kingdom to Pelias, his own 
brother, bidding him rule Thessaly until Jason^s return 
from Chiron. But Pelias had received an oracle from 
Apollo, bidding him beware of a man who should come 
with only one sandal ; for by him should he be slain. 

So Jason grew up, and came to his uncle, for to 
take his share in his father^s kingdom. But when he 
came to the river Anaurus, which is in Thessaly, wishing 
to ford it, there upon the bank he found Hera in the dis- 
guise of an old dame, and she would cross, but was 
afraid. Then did Jason take her upon his shoulders, 
and carry her safe over, but one sandal left he in the 
mud in the middle of the river. Thence he fared to the 
city with his one sandal, and there he found an assembly 
of the folk, and Pelias doing sacrifice to the gods. When 
Pelias saw him thus he minded him of the oracle, and 
being eager to be rid of him he set him this task, that he 
should go to Scythia in quest of the Golden Fleece, and 
then receive the kingdom. Now this he did from no 

Cviii) 



wish for the Fleece, but because he thought that Jason 
would be slain by some man in that strange land, or be 
shipwrecked. 

This is the story of the Golden Fleece. 

— {From the Greek of the Scholiasts*) 



There was a curse in the family of JEo\uz from the 
day that two members of it, Athamas and his wife 
Ino, ill-treated Phrixus and Helle, two other i^olids. 
Zeus saved the two intended victims and put a curse 
upon the guilty family, which could not be revoked until 
the Golden Fleece was brought from Colchis to Hellas. 

(ix) 



A SECOND ARGUMENT. 

Athamas, the son of JEoluSf and brother of Cretheus^ 
had to wife Nephele first, and begat two children, Phrixus 
and Hclle. When Nephele died, he married Ino, who 
did plot against the children of Nephele, and persuaded 
her country-women to roast the seed for sowing ; but the 
earth, receiving roasted seed, would not bear her yearly- 
crops. So Athamas sent to Delphi to inquire about the 
barrenness ; but Ino bribed his messengers, telling them 
to return and say, that the god had answered that Helle 
and Phrixus must be sacrificed if they wanted the barren- 
ness to cease. Wherefore Athamas was persuaded, and 
placed them at the altar ; but the gods in pity snatched 
them away through the air by means of the ram with 
the Golden Fleece; now Helle let go, and fell into the 
sea that bears her name, while Phrixus landed safe in 
Colchis. There he offered up the ram to Zeus, who 
helped his flight, for that he had escaped the plot of his 
step-mother. And having married Chalciope, daughter 
of ^etes, king of the Scythians, he begat four sons, 
Argus, Cytissorus, Melas, and Phrontis. And there he 
died. — {Given by Bntnck, from an unknoivn source.) 

(x) 



THE ROUTE OF THE ARGONAUTS TO JEh, 

AND THEIR RETURN THENCE 

TO lOLCHOS, 

There is no particular difficulty in following Argo 
on her outward voyage, or in identifying the numerous 
places mentioned by ApoUonius along the route ; indeed, 
his knowledge of the geography up to JEa.^ the goal of 
the enterprise, is singularly accurate. It is when we at- 
tempt to follow his account of the return journey, which 
was made by a different route, that we find ourselves ut- 
terly perplexed, and forced to the conclusion that our 
author has been drawing purely from imagination, with- 
out any idea of the impossibility of the course which he 
assigns to the heroes. 

Briefly, the voyage amounts to this. The Argonauts 
leave the Pelasgicus Sinus (Gulf of Volo), coast along 
Thessaly to Thermaicus Sinus (Gulf of Salonica), steer 
across -^gasum Mare (Archipelago) to the Hellespont 
(Dardanelles); through this straight into the Propontis 
(Sea of Mamara) ; through the Bosporus into the Euxine 
(Black Sea). Except when they cross the Archipelago, 
their voyage is almost a coasting one, and is easy to fol- 
low on a map. 

The return voyage teems with such insurmount- 
able difficulties, and is altogether so hopelessly confused 
and mythical, that it would be a mere waste of time and 
patience to attempt to follow it on a modern map 

(xi) 



Wc can only indicate briefly the course the heroes 
are said to have taken. After crossing the Euxine 
(Black Sea), they rowed through river- ways right 
across Dacia, Moesia, Illyria, and Dalmatia (Bulgaria, 
Servia, Bosnia, and Herzegovina), into the Adriatic; 
sailing to Italy, they cross the northern part by the 
Eridanus (Po); sail into the Rhone, thence into the 
Mediterranean ; right across to the west coast of Italy, 
along which they pass ; through the Lipari islands and 
the strait of Messina ; up the cast coast of Italy to the 
Adriatic again ; thence driven by storms, they come to 
the African coast; being caught in the shoals of the 
Syrtis they carry Argo overland to lake Tritonis 
(Bahr Faraouni in Tunis), and finding an outlet into the 
Mediterranean, sail along the African coast to the coast 
of Asia Minor, and so into the -^gean homewards. — 
(^Abridged from Coleridge,) 

(xii) 



INTRODUCTION. 

With thee, Phoebus, will I begin and record the fa- 
mous deeds of those men of old time, who, at the bidding 
of king Pelias, rowed the good ship Argo past the mouth 
of the Euxine and through the rocks Cyanean to fetch the 
Golden Fleece. 

For Pelias had heard an oracle on this wise, that in 
the latter days a hateful doom awaited him, even death, 
at the prompting of one whom he should see come forth 
from the people with but one sandal. And not long 
after, according to the sure report, came Jason on foot 
across the stream of a swollen torrent, and one sandal 
did he save from ^neath the mud, but the other left he 
there sticking in the river-bed. So he came to Pelias 
forthwith to take a part in the solemn feast, which he was 
offering to his father Poseidon and the other gods, but to 
Pelasgian Hera he paid no heed. And the instant Pelias 
saw Jason, he was ware of him, and made ready to his 
hurt a grevious task of seamanship, that so he might lose 
his return in the deep or haply among strange folk. 

Now minstrels even before my day do tell how 
Argus by the counsels of Athene buik a ship for him ; 
but mine shall it be now to declare the lineage and name of 
the heroes, and their passage of the long sea, and all 
that they did in their wanderings ; and may the Muses be 
the heralds of my song ! — {Apollonius Rhodius.) 

(xiii) 



ARGUMENT. 

Pelias in alann, sends Jason to Colchis to fetch the 
Golden Fleece. So Jason gathers the chieftains^ and is 
chosen captain himself. After launching the Argo they 
sail on without adventure as far as Lemnos, where they 
stay awhile, and arc hospitably received by Hypsipyle 
the queen. Thence they come to the Doliones and their 
king Cyzicus, and are kindly entertained. Giants with- 
stand them at Dindymus, but these are shot by Heracles. 
On the same night a storm drives the ship back to 
Cyzicum, and in the darkness they and the Doliones come 
to blows, and Cyzicus is slain. After mourning for him, 
they sail on to Mysia, where Hylas is lost, and Heracles, 
who will not be comforted, is left behind with Polyphe- 
mus — {Adapted from the Scholiast s,) 



YE &OT>3 <5Si 




N Thessaly, in oldcn time, there 
dwelt 
A good king, .^son, whom IVe 

always felt 
Was euchred sore, and of his 

crown bereft, 
Though holding ace, and bow- 
ers right and left. 
But Pelias revoked, in other words 
Renigg^d ; took all the tricks, and afterwards 
Took crown and scepter, also took the cake ; 
Threw in the throne — himself the king did 
make. 
Of course, such things don't happen in 
our day; 
We merely stock the cards, and win our way. 
Or form a trust, or moneyed syndicate — 
Buy votes enough to float the ship of state. 

But Pelias, now king of lolchos. 
Was sore afraid, and on his bed did toss. 
His bed of roses, did this Grecian king. 
Find stuffed with thorns, and all that kind of 

thing — 
One reason that he felt so sore afraid — 
Another was, an oracle had said: 
A man with one sandal would come some 

day — 
And sandal wood was precious — any way. 
This man with but one sandal — left one, 

too; 
With pard's skin, russet hood and tunic blue. 
Would from the king demand that was his 
own — 




YE G^OT>S 6^ 

I^JTTUE FISHES SI 





ND he would from his usurped 
throne be thrown. 
Now, at the foot of old Mount 
Pelion, 
There dwelt the famous Centaur, 

old Chiron; 
Half man, half horse, a thorough- 
bred was he, 
Well-skilled in music, woodcraft, surgery. 
And in a cave beneath an old oak tree, 
He kept a rural University, 
Not subsidized, nor yet endowed, as some — 
With a human-equine curriculum. 
He taught heroic pupils out-door sports. 
The art of war, and also other sorts 
Of arts ; and artful they became, of course. 
From being coached and trained by this ** old 
horse/* 
Of many famous scholars I might name. 
Who from this truly rural college came. 
Were Hercules and ./^B^culapius, 
Well-heeled Achilles ; but the one for us 
Was Jason, son of ^son, best of all 
The young cave-dwellers in old Chiron^s stall. 
And Chiron did his very level best, 
To fit young Jason for his future quest. 
And this old Centaur sent our hero brave, 
O'er many leagues of stormy ocean's wave , 
So well-equipped in all the arts of war. 
And love, and seamanship, and sportsman's 

lore. 
That none could him withstand, this Minyan 
bold. 



cWF 







^OOI^J 




Who sailed the seas to seize the Fleece of 

Gold. 
And now when -^^on*s son became of age, 
The time arrived when he must soon engage 
To verify the oracle foretold 
Long years before; and so our warrior bold 
Was dressed by Chiron in a tunic blue, 
Of Magnesian cut, and a pard^s skin too — 
Not his ''Old Pard's'' skin, but a leopard's 

pelt— 
And two huge spears, and a sword in his belt ; 
Then with russet hood on his flaxen hair. 
He looked too killing, and beyond compare. 
Then shaking Chiron's hoof, he said, ** Fare- 
well, 

1 ARE WELL, 'old hoss,' my 
tongue can never tell 
How much I grieve to part with 

you, this day.'' 
But Chiron only hoarsely said, 
" Neigh, nay." 
(Long after this, upon one 
summer day. 
When Hercules and certain Centaurs gay, 
About a jar of wine kicked up a spree, 
A poisoned arrow pierced old Chiron's knee — 
An arrow poisoned with the Hydra's corse. 
For which no cure was known for man or 

horse. 
A constellation he was made by Jove, 
And firmly fixed in firmament above. 
On any starlit night we yet may spy 
This emeritus professor in the sky. 






With bow well drawn and arrow made to (j^\ 

suit^ 
To teach our young ideas how to shoot.) 

O Jason broke away at break 
of day, 
And thro^ the well-known 
woods he took his way; 
Thro' woods where often he 
had chased the stag^ 
And brought the spotted leopard oft to bag. 
Likewise, the boar, who stoutest hearts with- 
stood, 
He oft bored thro' with spear of cornel wood. 
Then, thro' the woods, he came upon the 
plain , 
Where plain to see his journey would be vain, 
Unless across the Anaurus he stood, 
Whose rushing, swollen tide bode him no 

good. 
The river, swollen by the recent rain. 
Had overflowed its banks ; and then, again, 
Huge trees, torn up, mid-stream were whirled 

along. 
Too deep to wade; the tide to stem, too 

strong. 
Its tide, if taken at its flood, would be 
The death of any mortal man, you see; 
And Jason, though a dcmi-god, 't is true. 
Afraid to risk his mortal half, felt blue. 

And time and tide for no man wait, you 
know; 
But for a woman, yes, be she Juno ; 



And this fair goddess, of heaven the queen, 
And sweet on Jason, appeared on the scene. 
She in the guise of an old woman came; 
** Oh Jay/^ she said (the first half of his name — 
The mortal half it was, as well we know) ; 
'^Oh, son!*' (the half divine), "You needs 

must go 
Across this mighty, rushing stream, my boy ; 
Fear not, and I will give you safe convoy/* 



nND thereupon she put her arm 'round 
him. 
As in she plunged, and both were in the 

swim; 
The floating trees she quickly turned aside. 
And landed safely on the other side. 
** You see,'* she said, " it 's not the first, nor 

yet"— 
And here she took him in out of the wet — 
** Nor yet the last time that a man, I *m 'fraid. 
Will be supported by a woman's aid." 



mHEN Jason shook the water from his 
eyes. 
He gazed in wonder and in mute surprise ; 
For Juno had assumed her form divine; 
Her bright, resplendent beauty 'round did 

shine. 
He shook again, with cold and terror, too. 
For in the raging stream he' d lost one shoe. 
** Oh, Jason 1 do not be afraid," she said ; 
** Though you have lost your shoe, don't lose 
your head; 




YE Q^CDS 6^ 

I^JTTLT, FISHES II 





HIS 



To 



loss to you will be your /fj^ 
greatest gain, 
Pelias ^twill prove to be his 
bane; 
Straight to lolchos now you fain 

must go, 
And claim from him your rights ; 
it must be so ; 
For so it has been long ordained, this thing ; 
And you will some day be the rightful king. 
And if you ^re faithful to your trust, indeed, 
You ^11 always find that I ^m your friend, in 

need. 
But now I must be gone, or I ^11 be missed 
By Jove. Good-bye; consider that youVe 
kissed.^^ 
When Jason near to old lolchos drew, 
Half-shod, the people smiled and wondered too ; 
And when the city gates he had passed thro', 
They smiled again to see his tunic blue, 
His yellow hair, a foot above the crowd, 
His brass-bound spears — and then they smiled 
aloud. 
But Jason, with his tall, commanding mien, 
Passed swiftly on and noticed not, I ween. 
The mean remarks and gibes and sneers of 

those 
Who still admired him in his homespun 
clothes. 
He came at last beside the palace gate. 
Where Pelias, the king, himself, in state, 
Sat on an ivory throne, clad all in red. 
With crown of jeweled gold upon his head. 




^^ 









^J 



]U 



Then Jason, followed by the motley crowd, 
Strode boldly up, and there in accents loud, 
Said: *^PeIias, IVe come to claim my own. 
To claim my father^s scepter, crown and 

throne ; 
By having lost one shoe I 'm slightly lame. 
Still, that does not invalidate my claim. 
But only serves to make my title clear, 
For I am the one-sandaled man you fear/' 
And thereupon he came down with both feet 
Upon the step below the kingly seat* 




^hen Pelias, dissembling, softly said : 
I know you, Jason, well, but thought you 

dead; 

Right glad I am to see you here, my boy; 
V\\ send for JE&on, who ^11 be filled with 

joy. 
Accept this scepter, crown and everything 
That goes to make a man a so-called king. 
Right gladly Til step down and out* The 

throne 
Is celluloid, not ivory or bone; 
The crown is gilt ; its jewels are but glass ; 
It ^s all a fake ; the public is an ass. 
The palace needs repair; it^s mortgaged, all; 
But we ^11 repair now to the banquet hall.^^ 
In princely raiment Jason was arrayed, 
A pair of brand new sandals for him made ; 
His homely, homespun garb he cast aside. 
For far from home he soon was doomed to 

ride; 






I^^\' 




hiTTLT,' FISHES %\ 



For Pclias was a wily man, and he 
'^'^ Had formed an artful plan, as we shall see, 
By subterfuge and wine to outwit Jase, 
And send him, eager, on a wild-goose chase. 



THEREUPON a regal feast was 

spread, 
A royal function, which I Ve heard 

it said 
Surpassed all previous efforts, dish 

for dish; 
Confections rare, and fruit, flesh, 
fowl and fish. 
With lavish hand were spread upon the board. 
While from tall jars the choicest wines were 

poured ; 
And old and crusty, blood-red wine was then 
Transfused from skins of goats to skins of 




men; 
And full as goat skins many were that night — 
(From which, perhaps, arose the saying, trite). 

Enchanting music filled the spacious room. 
And garlands rare diffused their sweet perfume. 
Of brave adventure, minstrels sung, so sweet ; 
Fair girls in da.nse de ventre did compete. 

And now, when everything was apropos. 
And all were merry, mellow, and so, so, 
^T was then that Pelias proposed to tell 
A tale of olden time, and what befell 
The children of the noble Nephele, 
Phrixus, her son, and daughter fair, Helle ; 
How they, unjustly, were condemned to die. 
The ire of Queen Ino to gratify. 



fit 



^, 




^OOJ^J 




But Nephele, the good, discarded queen, 
Trumped Ino^s trick and won, as will be 
seen; 



seen; 
Procured a ram with wings and Fleece of 

Gold, 
The gift of Neptune, although some do hold 
^Twas Mercury who brought the buck, in 

haste — 
But all the same upon its back she placed 
Phrixus and Helle both, her children dear. 
The ram his course for Colchis straight 

did steer; 
And scorching thro' the air, his golden trail 
Seemed like a bright, effulgent comet's tail. 
Poor Helle, in affright, so dazed was she, 
Let go her hold and tumbled in the sea ; 
And since that time, forsooth, all men are 

wont 
To call that sea, in truth, the Hellespont. 
The ram, with Phrixus, then to Colchis came. 
Where he in time became a man of fame. 

The ram he sacrificed to Jove. The fleece, 
A sacred thing, he kept for love of Greece ; 
Until the king,-/Eetes,bad but wise. 
Had Phrixus slain, and stole the golden prize. 
In Colchis still, this wicked king doth hold 
What should belong to us, the Fleece of Gold.'' 



I ow this the tale the wily king did tell. 
And this the story that he told so well. 
To Jason then he spoke in accents low. 
And said : ** This happened forty years ago ; 




Methinks the time has come some Minyan 

bold 
Should from this minion take the Fleece of 

Gold. 
I would that I were young enough to go, 
^T would bring such credit on your reign, 

you know ; 
In such a quest the question 's one of age, 
And I 'm too old in such things to engage. 
This expedition must be made by sea, 
And water never did agree with me. 

OU ^RE young and brave and 
strong and handsome, 
too. 
And scores of demigods would 

go with you. 
To share your glorious deeds 

and lasting fame; 
The world would ring with 
praises of your name, 
ril stay at home, and raise the revenue 
To pay off all the debts of state, for you; 
And lead a quiet, humdrum, rusty life. 
While you ^re abroad engaged in stirring strife.' 
Now Jason, flushed with wine and flat- 
tery ,too. 
Was eager for the quest. Right well he knew 
The object of the story was to pull 
O'er his own eyes, forsooth, this golden wool ; 
In hopes that going for wool he 'd come home 

shorn. 
He knew to be the wish, of Pelias, born. 

10 




Right well did Jason know all this, yet still 
He felt that he the mission must fulfill; 
Bring back from foreign shore this Golden 

Fleece, 
Then reign as king of lokhos, in peace. 



R. 



e said : ** Oh^ Pelias, build me a ship, 
And I will undertake to make the trip; 
Send heralds out thro^ all the Grecian land, 
For volunteers to join my brave command. 
While Vm away you^lI still be king; to you 
I leave all matters and the revenue ; 
Be kind and just and keep the coffers full, 
But do not raise the tax on foreign wool.^^ 

Now, Argus, son of Phrixus, did equip. 
And build, with Juno^s aid, a mighty ship ; 
With fifty oars, and mast, and sheets and 

sail. 
That could with safety ride the fiercest gale. 
The stem and figurehead, 't is truly said, 
Of speaking oak of Dodona was made ; 
The faculty of speech this stem possessed, 
And oft advised brave Jason and the rest. 
The great ship^s hull was gaily painted blue, 
Ukramarine, a fine cerulean hue; 
The mast and oars and every single spar 
Were painted fiery red with cinnabar ; 
The rudder, still a ruddier tint, Tm told. 
The figurehead was overlaid with gold ; 
Likewise the gunwales and the portholes, too. 
And the starboard-holes, where the oars went 
through, 



<^ 




IjJTTUE' FISHES SI 





LL these were rimmed with gold 

some carats fine, 
Which brightly in the morning sun 
did shine. 
The good ship to her anchor 
riding free, 
As graceful as a swan upon the 
sea, 
Was finished now, and fully found, I ween, 
The most complete equipment ever seen : 
Two banks of oars, a tiller stout and long, 
A huge square sail with sheets and braces 

strong; 
The spacious hold and lockers all were stored 
With food and wine ; the best was put aboard. 
And nothing now was lacking but the crew; 
And but one thing remained for him to do, 
So Jason named her Argo, which was quite 
An honor to Argus, the great shipwright ; 
A cup of Thracian wine poured on her prow. 
Her sponsor, Juno, and godmother, now. 
Next day there came a score of men to 
town, 
Brave heroes they, and men of great renown ; 
And they were followed, day by day, until 
Full sixty god-like warriors did fill 
The shipping list; all men of daring, too; 
All eager for the quest — a noble crew. 
From far and near these warriors came in 

haste ; 
To answer Jason's call, no time did waste. 
And all were famous demigods, you see. 
The very flower of Grecian chivalry. 

12 




IRST Orpheus, the great musician, 
came, 
Who with his lyre had made a last- 
ing name; 
*Tis said he played so well that 

rocks and trees 
Broke from their bonds and followed 
him with ease; 
(But we have seen the same, where clubs and 

stones. 
In our own day, have followed dulcet tones 
Emitted from some strolling German band.) 
To Hades once he took his lyre in hand. 
To fetch his wife, Eurydice, from there 
(The place where all good liars do repair) ; 
But looking backward, lost his wife, so dear ; 
Brought back his lyre to earth — it still is here. 

Anon there came Asterion. Then we 
Have Nauplius, whose tears made salt the 

sea; 
Erginus, swift of foot, and gray-haired, too. 
Though young in years as any in the crew; 
Both sons of Neptune. And then after these, 
One Polyphemus, friend of Hercules ; 
Not one-eyed Pol., by Ulysses made blind, 
But Pol. who fought the Centaurs, drunk, 
you mind. 
Then came two other friends within the 
hour — 
Bold Theseus, who slew the Minotaur, 
And Pirithous, gallant forest king ; — 
Some doubt they went, but some doubt every- 
thing. 





HEN came the prophet Idmon, 
though he knew 
HeM lose his life, as well as Ti- 
phys, too. 

Diana sent her best loved, chosen friend; 
In answer to the summons, did commend 
Fair Atalanta, swiftest runner, too, 
And only woman in the Argo's crew; 
But she could hold her own in fight or chase. 
With any man ; she was not commonplace ; 
Perhaps new woman you would call her now, 
If you knew woman, that I might allow; 
But in our day, I think you will admit 
Miss Atalanta would be called misfit. 

Oileus, the red-haired Locrian king. 
Next came to town, well armed with every- 
thing. 
Then Iphiclus, the cow-boy, who, we ^11 own. 
Drank iron rust to give him nerve and tone. 
Admetus, king of Pherae, got the word ; 
Whose herd Apollo tended once, we Ve heard. 
Two sons of Mercury, who M left their farms. 
In Jason's cause resolved to take up arms — 
Echion and his brother, Eurytus. 

Then came the unsexed woman, Caeneus, 
Whom Neptune changed, we read, from 

woman, fair. 
To man, with all her rights and some to 

spare. 
Then came another prophet, Mopsus ; he 
Was also skilled in ornithology. 

-/Ethalides was herald of the crew 
(Echion was another herald, too) ; 




Eurydamus, an oarsman known to fame; 
Mencetius, son of Actor^ also came. 

Eurytion^ and then Eribotes, 
Were seen approaching thro' the forest trees. 
Then next came Clytius and Iphitus, 
Both gallant sons of old man Eurytus, 
And both were mighty bowmen, for you 

know 
They claimed to be inventors of the bow. 

And then a gilded chariot to the town 
Bore two brave men of wisdom and renown, 
The brothers Peleus and Telamon ; 
And bold Phalerus followed closely on. 
Then Butes, who for beauties had an eye, 
And weakness for the weaker sex, came nigh. 

The helmsman, Tiphys, pilot of the ship, 
By Juno was induced to make the trip; 
No man more skillful in his way than he. 
Well versed in signs of air and sky and sea. 
Next, Phlias, son of Bacchus, joined the crew; 
His vineyards left to sail the ocean blue. 

Then came the King of Clubs, great 
Hercules, 
To brave the terrors of the unknown seas ; 
As he approached with club and lion's skin. 
Great was the shout, vociferous the din 
That rent the air; and Jason paid the rent. 
And Hercules invited to his tent. 
Of his twelve labors great we all have heard. 
And when and where and how they all oc- 
curred; 
Labors most capital; the greatest known; 
But Capital such Labor could not own. 



15 






YE G^O'DS 6Eb 
1,ITTLT> FISHES 



mITH Hercules there came his trusty 
squire, 
The fair and faithful Hylas, whose 

fond sire, 
Theodamas, had given him leave 

to go, 
To bear the giant's arrows and 
his bow; 

No braver lad in Greece than Hylas, Esq., 
Not only brave, but fair and picturesque. 
Two heroes, world-renowned from cast 
to west, 
Next morning early came to join the quest, 
Both Castor and his brother, Pollux; they 
Were twins, and sons of Leda, and they say, 
I swan 1 that Jove himself was e'en their sire, 
And on these cygnets set his signet, fire ; 
By Gemini, they still are known ; in fine, 
A constellation bright they nightly shine; 
And Pollux was the champion pugilist. 
No man could stand before his awful fist ; 
Jim Corbett, Sharkey or the long-armed Fitz, 
Would be no more to him than three tomtits. 
And Castor was the champion charioteer. 
Well known on Grecian turf ; the chanticleer — 
Cock of the walk— in all athletic sports ; 
Took all the prizes in games of all sorts. 

Then Lynceus and Idas I must name. 
Two brothers who from fair Messene came ; 
Lynceus was the lookout of the ship. 
And nothing his observant gaze could slip; 
In earth, or waters underneath, could be 
No thing too small for Lynceus to see. 




vn 



1 




HEN Periclymenest who had the 
power 
To change his shape or form, 
from hour to hour; 
No doubt a Minyan politician, he, 
And shaped his ends to suit vox populu 
Ancseus, lover of the ocean blue, 
A skillful sailor and good helmsman, too. 
Then from Arcadian forests, fair and 
green, 
Amphidamus and Cepheus are seen. 
The cow-boy, Augeas, from his cattle ranch, 
A man of vaFrous deeds and warrior staunch. 
Asterius and Amphion, both brave. 
Came next to join the quest by ocean wave. 

Then followed one, so fleet of foot was he. 
That dry shod he could run upon the sea ; 
Euphemus was his name, he beat the earth. 
And water too, for all his feet were worth. 
From Calydon there next arrived that 
day 
The valiant Meleager, whom, they say. 
Was second best to no man of the force 
(But Hercules we must except, of course). 
His uncle, too, the brave Laocoon, 
Was eager for the laurels to be won; 
Another uncle, also, Iphiclus — 
The second of that name it seems to us. 
Just here V\\ say what may be known to 
you, 
A duplicate Ancaeus joined the crew. 
Upon investigation it was found 
There were not names enough to go around ; 




J^ITTHE FISHES % 




MALL, common names were 

rife, and did increase, 
But big, hard names were rather 

scarce in Greece ; 
A nose by any other name would 

smell — 
But Jim for Jason would not do 
so well. 
Then Palaemonius, son of 
Lcrnus, came, 
And in good time, for he was slightly lame. 
The mighty hunter, Areas, then came in. 
His well-filled quiver made of leopard's skin. 
Now, with a mighty, rushing, curious 
sound, 
Flew through the air and lit upon the ground 
Two brothers, sons of Boreas, the bold — 
Zcta and Calais, whom, we 're told. 
Could fly at will, or fly at anything. 
For to each heel there was affixed a wing ; 
Some say the wings were on their heads — 

the fools ! — 
Had that been so these brothers had been 

mules ; 
In either case I think we '11 not deny 
What seems more certain — they were very fly. 

Asclepius, a surgeon of great skill, 
Then next arrived, to either cure or kill; 
No allopath or homoeopath was he. 
From Chiron he got his degree, M.D.; 
And Chiron, being more than one-half horse. 
Was versed in spavin, ringbone, and, of 
course. 



r 






He treated these as well as human ills, 
And tauo:ht his students how to make horse 

pills; 
The practice in his hos^pital, you see^ 
To some estent was vet-er-i-na-ry. 

The son of Pelias, the king, you know, 
Acastus, then expressed his wish to go. 
And Neleus, though growing old and gray. 
Was not content, alone, at home to stay; 
For Periclymenes and Nestor, too. 
And they were both his sons, had joined the 

crew. 
Almenus, son of Mars, was next to come. 
Laertes, too, from Ithaca, his home. 
Two sons of Bias, both of whom were game, 
Areius and Talaus, also came. 
Then Canthus, fiom Euboea, slim and tall; 
And mighty Leodocus last of all. 

Perhaps there *s some whom IVe forgot 

to name. 
Some village champion, though unknown to 

fame; 
And some Pve named, perhaps, it did not 

suit 
To go, and therefore sent a substitute. 
As this occurred so many years ago. 
Some names have been forgotten, that I know ; 
And some there were who never learned to 

write. 
But signed the roll with ** X, his mark,*' all 

right; 
And in this way these men of mark expressed 
Their firm and strong desire to join the quest. 



a 



ly 



19 




And I am very sorry — might say vexed — 
That but an X was for such names annexed ; 
For doubtless they were brave and gallant 

men, 
And may have fought and bled and died ; but 

then — 
Were, lacking friends with pull and cinch at 

court, 
Not named in the official report. 





That nighty was spread upon the board, a 
feast ; 
And all the heroes from the first to least. 
And guests of honor, men of high renown. 
And dignitaries of the far-famed town. 
Were all assembled ^round the festive board. 
And held high wassail ; all with one accord, 
To celebrate with joy the great event. 
And give a glorious send-off — wise intent — 
To sixty godlike heroes, who were bound 
To fleece that Golden Fleece wherever found, 
And bring it back to Thcssaly, a full 
Yard wide, and warranted to be all wool. 



M,^>a 




And so they held high wassail, as Tvc 

told; 
Though some drank more than mortal man 

could hold ; 
The stomach of the godlike man, you see, 
Was wassail-proof,, of high or low degree. 
The great promoter of the quest was there, 
The wily king, who spoke and sawed the air 
With frantic gestures, with his royal arms. 
The glories to enhance, and the alarms 
Of any thought of danger to dispel. 
And boodle politicians wished them well. 
And government contractors, on the make. 
Who furnished commissaries, for the sake 
Of Grecian glory and renown, they said; 
But public honor then, as now, was dead ; 
In olden time, the same as in our day, 
Contract supplies — enlarge the bills — their 

way. 
So these contractors, with their pockets filled. 
Cried **Bon voyage;'' cared not if all were 

killed. 
'J^nE banquet, though, was voted a suc- 
^^ cess. 

And all enjoyed the function, more or less ; 
With mirth and music, song and speech and 

wine. 
They filled the long, dark watches, I opine ; 
So, all night long they quaffed the wassail 

cup. 
And at the break of day were all broke up — 
The banquet, not the wassail cup, I mean — 
As soon as Sol appeared upon the scene ; 






.■i.v^ 



J^ITTLE FISHES 





As he emerged and mounted in the sky. 
It seemed as though he winked his other eye ; 
The reason, though, is very plain to me, 
^T was water in his eye from out the sea ; 
At boozy men he M scarcely deign to wink. 
When he himself had just come out the drink. 
^EXT morning, on the sun- 
lit, curving strand 
Of Pagasae, the harbor 

bay, did stand 
The populace of lolchos, 
to view 

The proud ship Argo and her famous crew. 
Right bravely rode the gay and gallant ship, 
And tugged the twisted cable she would slip, 
And spread her wings to catch the western 

breeze. 
And sail away to lands beyond the seas. 

An altar then was built upon the shore. 
Of stones and shingle from the beach; and 

o^er 
It all were placed the olive logs, well dried ; 
A blazing brand of fir was then applied. 
Two steers were slaughtered for the sacrifice 
To Neptune or Apollo ; I ^m not wise 
Enough to say to which of these two gods 
The offering was made, but by all odds 
It was the greatest barbecue, I Ve heard. 
That ever in Thessalian land occurred. 

The king was there and cast the barley 
meal. 
And Jason poured libations, pure, to seal 
The compact he and all the others made. 






Z^^j'^ 












Ki.: 



To leave the Grecian border on this raid, 
And not return until their hands did hold 
That sacred thing to Greece, the Fleece of 
Gold. 

The flames leaped high; and upward, 
wreaths of smoke 
Ascended, happy omen, to invoke 
The aid of Neptune or Apollo; and 
The roast beef gravy mingled with the sand. 

And sand and grit these warriors possessed 
To sail their galley east, or galley west; 
But toward the east to sail to Colchis land. 
It was their fixed intent, you understand; 
No altar now could alter this decree. 
To steer due east across the Euxine sea; 
No sacrificial ox could circumvent. 
Or change their course from east to Occident. 
But hap^Iy all the signs and omens too, 
Implied success and honor to the crew. 

HE heroes now were all aboard the 
ship. 
And casting lots for places on the trip. 
The middle bench of upper bank of oars 
(For on the ship there were two decks or 

floors) 
Was then by common will of all assigned 
To Hercules and Ancaeus ; a kind 
Of place of honor, also one of rank; 
Their mighty strokes were tellers in that bank. 
And in the second bank, the middle seat 
Was giv^n to Atalanta, who was sweet 
On Meleager, sitting by her side; 
And thus for months contented they did ride. 




23 



<::^— --^= 




YE G^O^DS 6$b 

LITTHE^FISHES SI 





Or rather, rowed, the galley toward the east ; 
Their bank account was good, to say the least. 
I HE helm was given to Tiphys, 
who could steer 
By day or night, in weather 

foul or clear; 
The tiller ropes were his, 

with one accord, 
Until her ropes and spars 
went by the board. 
And Lynceus, the lookout, then was named; 
For periscopic vision he was famed ; 
As lookout all the others looked to him. 
To see that safely rode their vessel trim. 
Then Jason was elected Captain bold. 
And all the rest were mates, so I Ve been told ; 
They could not go before the mast, you ^11 find. 
For that was near the middle ; so behind 
The mast one-half the crew were thus com- 
pelled 
To sit, as they the gallant bark propelled. 
With fifty oars through fifty holes, was she, 
A wholly holy terror of the sea. 

And now the cables were drawn in and 
coiled ; 
The anchor raised and fished; the crew all 

toiled 
In getting under way ; then to his oar 
Each warrior went, and looking toward the 

shore. 
Gave three loud cheers in old vociferous 

Greek, 
As went the Grecian banner to the peak. 



v;^ 






w 



V' 










w 



"M 



The folk on shore responded with a will ; 
Responsive echoes came from every hill ; 
And from the top of tall Mount Pelion 
The good old Centaur Chiron looked upon 
The stirring scene below, and breathed a 

prayer 
For Jason^s safe return, his only care. 

And all the gods and woodland nymphs 
looked down, 
To see these men of courage and renown ; 
The Tritons and the nymphs. Nereides, 
Were looking on in wonder, from the seas ; 
And as they looked, admired, for truth to 

say. 
They *d ne^er before seen such a grand array 
Of handsome, strong, and well-armed men ; 

in fine. 
Each man was one-half human, half divine. 
HEN Tiphys grasped the tiller 
with his hand. 
And fifty oars gave way at his 
command ; 
With measured strokes the feathered oars 

kept time 
To voice and lyre of Orpheus, sublime. 
Who played and sung of war and doughty 

deeds 
That, doughty then, are doubted now, for 

creeds 
Of olden time are looked upon to-day 
As fairy tales or fables, sad to say. 







LITTLE FI3HES%\ 



ND Jason, standing in the stern, 
a-lec, 
Then poured a cup of mead upon 

the sea ; 
And fishes followed in the gal- 

ley^s wake, 
Great tunnies, dolphins, mullet, 

cod and hake. 
Enchanted by the lyre of Or- 
pheus — 
It might have been the mead, it seems to us — 
But lyres and fishes, ever since that day, 
Are strangely coupled, but this way — 
The liars follow fishes — lie in wait, 
And then, when caught, again they lie in 
weight. 
Thus Argo left her moorings in the bay. 
And cleft the sun-kissed waves, as on her way 
She dashed the spray on either side the prow. 
And proudly glided o'er the sea ; and now 
The Argonauts, responsive to the skill 
Of helmsman Tiphys, labored with a will, 
And turned the harbor headland with a dash, 
That seemed to those on shore to be a flash 
Of vivid lightning, as the morning sun 
On burnished slSelds and weapons brightly 

shone ; 
The glare from highly polished helmet scales. 
And gilded figurehead and gilded wales. 
Reflected by the rays of bright sunlight. 
Seemed like a meteor as she passed from sight. 
The folk on shore then slowly took their 



way 



26 



Back toward the city gates, a sad array 
Of weeping maidens, who with every tear 
Breathed silent prayers for those they held so 

dear; 
And sad-browed men, and heart-sick mothers 

too, 
Besought the gods to guard the vaFrous 

crew. 
But Pelias, the king, with joy was filled, 
And hoped and prayed that Jason would be 

killed ; 
And with pretended grief upon his face. 
The tenor of his inmost thoughts was base. 
Now Neptune showed his favor for the 

crew. 
And raised the wind in their behalf; 'tis true 
A fresh and merry, wholesail, western breeze 
Came piping off the shore across the seas ; 
The rowers, at command of Tiphys, then 
Laid by their oars, and like good sailor men. 
Unfurled and hoisted up and spread the sail. 
And trimmed it flat to catch the gentle gale. 
The Argo like a sea bird fairly flew 
With widespread wing across the waters blue ; 
And like a sea bird dipped her outstretched 

wing, 
And from her prow in showers the spray did 

fling. 
Then Orpheus tuned up his lyre and sung 
An old sea ballad, learned when he 

young. 
He sung of Saturn, mighty Titan, who 
With murderous intent a sickle drew, 






6^ 
J^ITTLE FISHES 



^jjsiwpy*^ 





And slashed his father^ Uranos, whose blood 
Dropped in the sea^ and from the salty flood 
Arose fair Venus, born of blood which fell 
Upon the ocean wave ; so blood will tell. 
And Saturn was the famous sire, 't is said, 
Of Centaur Chiron, blooded thoroughbred. 

E also sang of Bacchus, who, 

he told. 
Was captured by Tyrsenian 

pirates bold; 
Was bound with cords and 

taken on their ship; 
But from his godlike limbs the cords did slip; 
And vines of grape and ivy climbed the mast — 
The captain wild with rage, the men aghast — 
And grapes and berries hung in clusters fair 
From shrouds and stays and spars and every- 
where ; 
And Bacchus, turning to a lion, then, 
Devoured the captain ; and the men, 
With terror filled, plunged headlong in the sea. 
And there were turned to dolphins, all agree. 
If any doubt this story told the crew, 
The dolphins still exist to prove it true. 
In point of fact, these fish that very day. 
Charmed by the lyre of Orpheus and his lay, 
Close to the Argo swam, with crested jaws. 
And flapped their tails in token of applause. 

Now past the Pelian cliffs the Argo sped. 
The Sepian headland now in sight, ahead ; 
This was the place where Thetis, by her 

wish. 
Did change herself into a cuttle-fish, 

28 




^^ 



ya 



And various other formst as fast she fled 
From Peleus, who wanted her to wed; 
Till, tired of change of form, she changed her 

mind, 
And married him; to this he was inclined 
By Centaur Chiron's sage advice, though she, 
A lovely water nymph, lived in the sea. 
They had one son, Achilles, who was now 
With Chiron on the lofty mountain brow ; 
And Peleus was now an Argonaut, 
And in the sea dwells Thetis, as she ought. 
These songs were much enjoyed by all 

the crew. 
Because, you see, theyM nothing else to do; 
While Meleager, though a warrior grim, 
Held Atalanta's hand ; she winked at him. 
And Sepias now astern, they saw the isle 
Sciathus, on their weather bow ; and while 
They looked upon the mainland, there they 

saw 
The headland of Magnesia ; then a flaw 
Of fresher breeze the Argo caused to list 
To starboard, while the rising waves she 

kissed. 
The cairn of Dolops now was in plain view, 
W hich soon was reached, and then the Argons 

crew 
The broad sail lowered and furled it on the 

yard; 
Then took their oars and rowed both fast and 

hard. 
Until they beached the Argo on the sand; 
Right glad were they again to tread the land. 

29 



^e.. 






YE 0^07)3 6^ 
LITTLE FISHES 



ERE Jason camped and rested 
two long days. 
The heroes passed the time in 

various ways — 
In wrestling matches, racing, 

feats of strength, 
In quoits and boxing, swim- 
ming — till at length 
A fair and fresh wind blowing 
off the land, 
They pushed the Argo seaward from the 

strand. 
And making sail, their goodly vessel flew. 
Right glad again to breast the waters blue. 
And sailing on and on, at length observed 
The city Meliboea as they swerved ; 
Then Homele and other mountains tall — 
Olympus, Ossa ; higher than them all 
The Thracian hill of Athos, as they passed, 
Half way to Hellespont its shadow cast. 

And strong and stronger blew the breeze, 
and soon 
The sheets and halyards sung a merry 

tune; 
The huge sail filled and bellied to the blast, 
And strained and creaked upon the bended 

mast; 
But Tiphys eased the Argo o^er the seas. 
Till with the sun went down the western 

breeze. 
The heroes then, with oars again in hand. 
And rowing swiftly toward the rock-crowned 
land. 



30 



^ 



^^^^r^J^C){_ 



At nightfall anchored safely in the lee 
Of Lemnos isle, far out upon the sea. 

Now in this isle the women held full sway, 
And woman^s rights the order of the day; 
The women held all offices, from queen 
To supervisor of the roads, I ween; 
And all the Lemnian soldiers, rank and file, 
Wore bifurcated skirts ; for on this isle 
No man had been allowed to live for years ; 
No man or boy; for strange it now appears. 
The females slit the throat of every male. 
Till not a man was left to tell the tale. 

It seems that on this pleasant, sea-girt isle. 
Where every prospect pleases, man was vile ; 
Unfaithful to their lawful wedded wives. 
They led concupiscent and evil lives. 
And frequented the Thracian mainland, where 
They flirted with the women over there. 
We read that Venus, for some fancied slight. 
Caused all this trouble dire — it may be right. 
But every husband gave this same excuse. 
Which to the classic reader may be news : 
His wife was fond of onions, musk and myrrh. 
So that he could not bear the smell of her. 
And roamed away to other pastures new. 
And sweeter smelling fragance — so would 
you. 

All ready for an early start next day. 
The crew were busy getting under way. 
When from the shore they heard such noise 

and din. 
They stopped, and ceased to haul the anchor 




31 




sr^ 






And looking shoreward, were surprised to sec 

A band of warlike female soldiery, 

Well armed, and with their fighting harness 

on, 
Each woman seemed a mighty Amazon ; 
They clashed their swords and shields with 

warlike will, 
But woman^s usual weapon — tongue — was 

still; 
And at their head Hypsipyle, their queen. 
Stood gazing, proud defiance in her mien. 

Then Jason sent ^^thalides, for he 
Was herald of the ship's good company. 
To ask what meant this warlike, fierce array. 
When he was just about to sail away; 
To tell, moreover, Queen Hypsipyle 
The object of his mission o'er the sea. 

ER fears removed, the queen 
then did implore 
That Jason and his crew 

would come ashore 
And be her guests, with all 

that did imply; 
He guessed they would be 
happy to comply. 
She sent a formal invitation then 
To Jason and his crew of gallant men, 
To meet the ladies of her court at tea. 
And signed her maiden name : R. S. V. P. 

^thalides returned and made report; 
The heroes voted to remain in port ; 
Accepted was the invitation, too. 
By every warrior of the Argo's crew, 

32 




Except great Hercules, his squire, Hylas, 
And Meleager, and the warrior lass, 
Fair Atalanta ; they would not consent 
To meet these ladies of strong minds and 

scent. 
In justice, though, it seems but right to say, 
Their ill smell with their husbands passed 

away; 
And then the simple truth confronts us, too. 
That they were sweet — on Jason and his crew. 



And now each sailor overhauled his kit, 
Picked out his gear of most becoming fit ; 
His broidered robe of gorgeous woof and hue. 
His jeweled bek, and burnished it anew; 
And Orpheus polished well his tuneful lyre ; 
To look his very best did each aspire. 
And when they left the ship toward close of 

day. 
They looked like gods, indeed, as on their 

way 
They marched in solid ranks with martial 

tread. 
With Jason, noble hero, at their head; 
And solid they became with maidens fair 
Of Lemnos isle — but that ^s not our affair. 

At court the queen received them, one /| 

and all; 
Assigned to each a seat in banquet hall 
Beside a lady of the court, but she 
Had Jason sit beside herself, you see 



33 




They had a lovely time, as each one said, 
For never in that isle was such a spread; 
The choicest viands, wines and mead were 

there ; 
While song and speech and story filled the 

air; 
A feast of reason, surely, for the queen 
Had reason for the feast, as may be seen ; 
And then the flow of soul, or overflow. 
Was most enjoyed, perhaps, as you may know 

HE queen, dissembling, then 
with cunning speech. 
Said: *^You, perhaps, have 

wondered at this breach 
Of etiquette, in asking you to 
tea. 

With only wives and maidens, as you see ; 
Perhaps you Ve wondered, also, at the dearth 
Of men and boys in this fair spot of earth* 
Know then that they, the lords of Lcmnos 

isle. 
Oft leave their wives and daughters for awhile. 
And to the mainland one and all repair. 
Allured by charms of pretty maidens there ; 
And personae non gratae we are now. 
Deserted and neglected, you ^11 allow. 

But now for woman's rights we all de- 
clare ; 
WeVe banished all the males, ^tis only fair 
And right ; in other words, we Ve cut them, 

dead. 
And we strong-minded women rule instead. 

34 




We think we live much better^ on the whole, 
Since every woman now is femme-sole ; 
For in our courts the married ones^ of course, 
Obtained decrees of absolute divorce. 
We bought a pair of Justice scales, and then 
We weighed the thoughts and actions of our 

men; 
Weighed in the balance thus, from day to day, 
We found that all were wanton, in their 

weigh. 
WeVe notified our husbands, so ^tis clear 
They^II never more come back to interfere.** 
And thus the time was spent from day to 

day. 
In dinner parties, teas and picnics gay; 
The heroes well content to stay on land. 
Till Hercules felt called to take a hand; 
With club and lion^s skin he went on shore. 
And with his comrades talked the matter o*er. 

^*If Jason wishes to remain,*' said he, 
** The Jack of Hearts to Queen Hypsipyle, 
Then I, the King of Clubs, will take the trick. 
And steer our gallant ship through thin and 

thick. 
Fair Atalanta, Meleager bold 
And I will try to seize the Fleece of Gold; 
For we stand pat ; we know three of a kind 
Is good enough to see and raise your blind. 
You think your royal flush is sure to win ; 
You *11 find it but a bob-tail, sure as sin. 
We *re good enough to open, and will take 
The jack-pot, with the Fleece of Gold — the 

stake.** 

35 





HE heroes, much ashamed at this 
reproof, 
Resolved to leave at once the 

royal roof; 
By Jason led, they bid a fond 

farewell 
To queen, and ladies of the court, 
as well. 

In solid phalanx then they formed once more. 
And marched with heavy footsteps to the 

shore ; 
Their spears and shields adorned with flowers 

rare, 
And other tokens from the Lemnian fair, 
Who weeping sadly, said, with tearful voice : 
^* Again weVe widows lone, but not from 
choice/' 
Then all the heroes went aboard the ship; 
The cable from the stern did Argus slip 
From round a rock; and then the Argo's crew 
Hove up the anchor stone, and fished it, too ; 
Then took their places at the oars, and soon 
Were swiftly rowing to a measured tune : 
'* The Girl I Left Behind Me,'' done in Greek, 
An ode they owed to Lemnos, so to speak. 
That day they reached the island Samo- 
thrace ; 
There was a sacred temple in this place ; 
And secret rites were practiced by the crew. 
Which right or wrong, I can't reveal to you. 
They left next day and seemed a trifle tired, 
Though what the reason was, IVe not in- 
quired ; 





^OOJ^J 



But Orpheus, who'd been there once before, 
And knew the grips and passwords — smiled 

the more. 
The south wind then began to blow quite 

hard; 
They raised the sail and spread it on the 

yard, 
And sailing thence o'er the -^gean sea, 
The Hellespont they entered with great glee ; 
For now good fishing they were sure to find, 
And soon their lines were trolling out behind. 

And Atalanta, to their great surprise. 
The first fish caught, a tunny of some size; 
Hand over hand she hauled it o'er the stern. 
The coarse line made her little fingers burn ; 
But with some pride she brought it in with 

ease. 
** He '11 weigh a stone or more," said Hercules ; 
** He '11 weigh the anchor stone, you mean," 

she said. 
And whirled her line three times around her 

head. 
Then cast it far to leeward ; strange to say, 
Another fish she caught; it was her day; 
Another tunny, flapping fins and tail. 
As Atalanta drew it o'er the rail ; 
This one so big she had to use the gaff. 
**He'll weigh a tunny more," she said, ^*now 

laugh!" 
They wondered all to see the luck she had ; 
A full round dozen, dolphins too, egad I 
The others fishing by her side, alas 1 
Got ne^er a bite — and thus it came to pass : 



37 



9^- 




HILE all the crew at Lemnos 
were away^ 
Fair Atalanta watched the fishes 

play 
About the ship. One day a bit 

of brass 
Fell overboard ; a great fish made 
a pass 

And seized it ere it sunk — a happy thought : 
Then Atalanta took an armor scale^ 
In one end drilled a hole with sharpened nail ; 
With constant rubbing made it shine quite 

bright, 
Then fixed it just above the hook, aright ; 
The line passed through the little hole, you see, 
And round the hook it whirled quite merrily. 
And this the lure evolved from woman's 
mind, 
The first revolving fish-bait of its kind ; 
And thus you see — you '11 not forget it soon — 
A woman did invent the trolling spoon. 
The proof is this : that I, myself, one day — 
Near where Leander swam across the bay — 
Picked up a sea-worn, spoon-shaped scale of 

brass. 
With letter **h!* scratched on one side ; alas I 
Poor Atalanta lost it all too soon ; 
Her loss, my gain, for now this souvenir spoon. 
And well preserved, may still be gazed upon. 
Though one thing still it lacks — the hole i^ 

gone; 
The letter alpha 's there, graved on the bowl ; 
In fact, there 's nothing missing but the hole. 



m 






38 



<?S^ 



^^^k^- 



CHE wind blew fresh and fair ; the weather 
bright; 
Ancaeus steered the ship by day; at night 
The helmsman Tiphys^ with his sight so keen, 
The tiller held ; and so they sailed between 
The land of Ida on the starboard side, 
Rhoeteum on the port ; and on the tide 
Passed Abydos and Abarnis ; at last 
From Hellespont to the Propontis passed. 
And came to Cyzicum, a harbor fair ; 
And by advice of Tiphys anchored there. 
*T was here they got a heavier anchor stone, 
And tautened shrouds and stays, which all 

must own 
Was a most wise and thoughtful thing to do. 
For men about to sail in waters new. 

Beyond the harbor, and the river, too, 
A lofty, rugged hill stood in plain view; 
And on this hill a wild and lawless race 
Of earth-born men did dwell, both big and 

base; 
Each giant had six arms, as we are told, 
A full half dozen weapons thus could hold; 
With bows of cornel wood we must aver. 
The first six-shooters in the world, they were. 

The peaceful people of the harbor town. 
The Doliones, men of good renown. 
And ruled by Cyzicus, the youthful king, 
A welcome warm, and food and drink did 

bring 
To Jason and the rest. It seems the king. 
By Juno, had been warned to do this thing; 



39 




9^^ 





I^JTTLE FISHES SI 




To give good cheer and welcome to the crew ; 

And this the generous king proposed to do ; 

In fact, he gave the best, spared no expense, 

To please his famous guests, in every sense. 

Receptions, dinner parties, breakfasts rare, 

Were also given by the ladies fair 

Of Dolionian society, 

To Jason and the Grecian chivalry ; 

For at the banquet in the royal hall. 

The object of the quest was told to all. 

EXT morning Jason,Tiphys 
and a score 
Of Argonauts, went inland 

to explore. 
And climb the mountain 
Dindymus, to see 
The route their voyage led them o'er the sea. 
The earth-born giants then from Arctos hill. 
With rocks the seaward channel tried to fill, 
And pen the Argo, like a rat, inside. 
The sport of wind and wave and every tide. 
Then Hercules, who had remained behind. 
Had sport exactly suited to his mind ; 
And with his mighty arm and bended bow, 
With every arrow laid a giant low ; 
His arrows gone he took his brazen club ; 
The others joined him, in the fierce hubbub, 
With sword and spear, and soon they won 

the day. 
And every six-armed man had passed away. 
Instead of passing rocks to impede ships, 
It kept them busy passing in their chips. 







I 







Forehanded men^ of course, we often see; 
To be forewarned is forearmed said to be ; 
But six-armed men are now extinct, indeed, 
The Argonauts wiped out the useless breed. 

Now Jason and the heroes bade farewell 
To Cyzicus the king, his bride as well, 
The fair-haired Cleite, and her ladies true, 
And all the gallant Cyzicusscs, too. 

With southwest wind they crossed the 
harbor bar, 
Sailed day and night by sun and polar star. 
One night a dreadful, raging storm did break. 
That made the Argons well-hewn timbers 

quake ; 
The lightnings flashed across the inky sky, 
The thunders rolled and rattled far and nigh. 

Then Jason, sleeping, had a horrid dream ; 
So true and realistic did it seem, 
That some old writers thought it was a fact ; 
Have so recorded it with wondrous tact. 
But Jason dreamed the Argo, without sail. 
Was driven back before the furious gale 
To Cyzicum; and in the haven there — 
Of this, however, they were unaware — 
The Argo safe was anchored by the glare 
Of lightning flashing brightly through the air. 

He further dreamed the heroes went ashore. 
Not knowing that theyM been there once 

before; 
In truth, they did not think then to inquire. 
But, with great shouts of joy, they built a fire 
To dry their dripping garments, and to make 
A sacrifice to Neptune, for their sake. 



41 





HE Dolioncs woke with dread 
and fright, 
And in the darkness of the horrid 

night, 
Put on their fighting harness, 

seized their arms, 
Rushed out to know the cause 
of these alarms; 
And seeing men about a fire bright, 
And arms and armor flashing in its light. 
Thought that their foes had come with fire to 

burn 
And sack their city. Then each man in turn 
Let fly his arrow ; then with shield and spear, 
Rushed all together, without thought of fear, 
Upon the Argonauts, who much surprised— 
Not knowing they were friends they highly 

prized — 
Gave blow for blow; and fierce the battle 

raged. 
Until the Argonauts became enraged 
And drove the Doliones back to town ; 
And sad to say, a score of men went down 
Before their spears. At last, at break of day. 
It was discovered then to their dismay, 
That they had fought their friends. The sad- 
dest thing — 
Among the dead was Cyzicus, the king. 
Then Jason woke; his mind was much 
relieved 
To find it all a dream, which, he believed. 
Had really happened ; and the storm now o^er, 
The Argo sailed along the peaceful shore. 



42 



W. 



%^^^I3 



^\ 



A crested bird then flew above the mast^ 
And perched upon the high-peaked stern, at 

last; 
A loud and cheery, joyous^ trilling note 
Then issued from its swelling, azure throat ; 
It was a brave king-fisher, halcyon bird, 
That came to bring the tired sailors word, 
That now from storms for weeks they would 

be free. 
With summer weather and a rippling sea. 

And now a calm succeeded to the gale ; 
Each rower took his oar and did not fail 
To do his very level best; for both 
The first and second banks, of course, were 

loth 
To be outdone ; and port and starboard, too, 
Did try each other^s mettle to outdo. 

Then Hercules put forth his mighty 

strength, 
And would have turned the ship around, at 

length, 
But suddenly his great oar broke in half, 
And back he tumbled from the bench; the 

laugh 
Was then on him ; but turning to the rest. 
Said : ** Who laughs last will always laugh 

the best.'' 
The broken oar he spliced with leather 

braid. 
And trimming down the broad and flattened 

blade. 
He made a fishing rod some ten yards long. 
Much like a flag-staff, trim and very strong; 



43 



(<:, 







J^ITTLE FISHES 



With leather loops tied on the rod and tip, 
Through which, as guides, the fishing line 
would slip. 

ITH two round shields, and 
spindles in between, 
He made an object none 

had ever seen; 
The central shaft extended 

through a hole 

Bored through the butt of his big fishing pole ; 
With handle near the edge of outer rim, 
It freely turned ; he said it suited him. 

The signal halyards for a line he took ; 
And from a rod of brass he made a hook. 
Such fishing tackle none had ever seen ; 
The rod and reel were something new I ween ; 
The very first that ever had been known, 
And Hercules invented both, we ^11 own. 
And then he took a strip of lion^s pelt, 
Some silken bits from Atalanta's belt, 
A plume from Jason's helmet, who was nigh ; 
With these he tied an artificial fly. 

Then Hercules addressed the crew and 
said: 
** Fair Atalanta as high-hook's ahead ; 
She beat us all a-fishing with her spoon. 
But I expect to take her laurels soon. 
I Ve thought about this thing from day to day, 
And when I broke my oar, I saw my way. 
One day, while idly looking on the sea, 
I saw some big fish feeding, on the lee ; 
A school of sprats was floating with the tide, 
On them the fish were feeding, side by side ; 

44. 



And then a tern, attracted by the prey, 
Swooped down and mingled in the fishy fray ; 
A fish then lifted up his ponderous jaw. 
Took in the tern, and that *s the last I saw. 
Now, one good tern deserves another, sure ; 
So I have made this artificial lure. 
Well calculated to deceive, you ^11 learn; 
You call it what you will — I ^11 call the tern/^ 

Then Hercules began to cast his fly, 
With all the others standing idly by ; 
His ponderous rod he waved both back and 

forth. 
The heavy line did follow, south, then north ; 
The fly in air, and then in water, too. 
As first in front, and then behind it flew ; 
Each cast he made was longer than before. 
Until the fly reached half way to the shore. 

And now the rest began to smile and 
laugh, 
The bolder ones, indeed, began to chaff : 
**Vd spare the rod and use a trolling line,** 
Said Atalanta, ^^and PU lend you mine.** 
** Just look,** said Meleager, ** how he reels 
About the quarter-deck, with those big wheels.** 
**I*ve noticed that,** said Polyphemus, **too; 
I think he*s got wheels in his head; don*t 



you 



>** 



** He seems to have a cast in either eye,** 
Said fleet Euphemus, walking quickly by. 
** I think he *d better take a tern below,** 
Said Periclymenes, and turned to go. 



45 




E* S teaching swallows how to 
use their wings/^ 
Said Iphiclus ; and others said 

these things : 
** One swallow never made a 

summer yet/^ 
**But this a cold day makes 
for Here, you betP^ 
** I think we M better let him take the mast, 
And with the anchor cable make a cast/^ 
**Hc could n^t catch the measles with that 

blind/^ 
** He ^s caught a cold already, in his mind/* 
** No doubt it *s lots of sport for manly men 
To cast that rope and wind it up again ;^* 
From Atalanta came this parting shot, 
Then went below to fix her Psyche knot. 

But Hercules cast far upon the tide. 
And gently jerked the lure from side to side. 
When suddenly a great fish passing by. 
Turned in his course and quickly seized 

the fly. 
Then Hercules, with triumph in his look. 
Did yank the rod and set the big brass hook ; 
This monstrous fish, as long as half the ship. 
Then started off as if to maKe a trip 
Around the world in half a dozen days ; 
But Hercules knew all his water ways. 
His scaly tricks, and fishy manners, too ; 
He knew a fish from gills to tail, all thro'. 
He snubbed him short, the great fish leaped 
on high. 
Fell down again, and made the water fly ; 



46 



And back and forth he went, and to and fro. 
The heavy rod was bending like a bow ; 
And up and down he leaped, this way and 

that, 
Sometimes 't was hard to tell where he was 

'*at;'' 
And like a buzz-saw whirled the curious reel ; 
But Hercules, with sinews strong as steel, 
On bended rod did play the fish with skill ; 
Some bet he would, some bet he would not, kill. 
Twice underneath the ship the huge fish 

went. 
But Hercules, this trick did circumvent. 
By passing rod and line around the stern ; 
Then off upon another tack did turn 
This monstrous fish. And now two hours 

had passed; 
It seemed as though the fight all day would 

last ; 
Till, by a lucky chance came driving by. 
Old Neptune, with his sea-horse team so spry. 
Astounded was the famous old sea-king. 
And stopped to see the outcome of this thing. 
He much admired the queer, new-fangled 

way. 
With rod and reel a monstrous fish to play. 
He watched the rushing, leaping, diving fish ; 
He heard the rattle of the reel, and swish 
Of tautened line, that through the water cut ; 
And saw the angler give the fish the butt. 
As underneath his car the fish did plunge, 
He, with his trident, gave a sharp, quick 

lunge, 



W^(^ 



ff^ 





tJTTLE FISHES 



^•f!^ 





And gaffed the fish ; then held it up aloft ; 
The heroes cheered, and all their helmets 

doffed ; 
And praised both Hercules and Neptune, 

too; — 
Who threw the fish on deck, and said: 

'^Adieu'/^ 

ND now a fair wind spring- t^ 
ing up, just then, 
They hoisted sail ; got under 

way again. 
Toward evening, Tiphys, 
saw a land he knew — 
The Mysian land, well-watered, fertile, too. 
They beached the Argo on the sandy shore, 
And near the river Cios, with good store 
Of fish and game; with pleasant groves of 

trees ; 
A camping spot that could not fail to please. 
Around the fire of olive logs that night. 
They told of deeds of prowess, sport and fight. 

Next morning, Hercules, set out to find 
A tree exactly suited to his mind. 
From which to make an oar both stout and 

long; 
An oar expressly made for one so strong. 
The others filled afresh the water jars ; 
Repaired the rigging, too, like good Jack-tars ; 
And some went fishing, with the usual brag, 
Still ethers went to hunt the lordly stag ; 
And one and all, each in his chosen way, 
Resolved to spend a happy, pleasant day. 



48 



^^;,.;:.;- 

^^^^^'^e. 




Toward evening, Hylas, squire of Her- 
cules, 
Went wandering thro* the grove of oaken 

trees, 
With brazen pitcher, searching for a spring 
Of cool, refreshing water; and did sing 
With very gladness ; and his charming voice 
Rang thro* the woods — made even birds 

rejoice. 
Now Hylas was a handsome youth, whose 

hair, 
In golden ringlets fell about his fair 
And girlish face. At last he found the spring. 
And on the velvet sward himself did fling. 
Beside the cool and deep and limpid stream. 
To rest his graceful limbs, and doze and dream. 

The summer afternoon went on apace ; 
The rising moon shone full on Hylas* face ; 
The night-birds sung, the crickets chirped 

with glee; 
Still Hylas slept, from thought of danger free. 
Then from the deep and silent pool emerged 
A lovely water-nymph, and round her surged 
The moonlit waves ; and from her dripping 

hair 
Fell showers of sparkling water jewels, rare. 
She then stepped out upon the sloping 

bank, 
And made her way thro* reeds and rushes 

dank; 

The full moon on her filmy garments beamed. 

Thro' which her form like polished ivory 

gleamed. 

4.9 




IITTLE FISHES 





HE stood before the sleeping 
youth, entranced; 
The moonbeams thro' his golden 

ringlets danced. 
Upon the mossy bank she then 

reclined. 
And gazing on the sleeping youth, 
her mind 

Was filled with love and admiration true ; 
A youth so fair and comely, godlike, too, 
She ne'er had seen before. She heaved a sigh. 
And crooned a soft and tuneful lullaby : 

*^0 come, and be my love beneath the 
waves, 
And dwell with me in mossy, coral caves ; 
Come, be my love, fair youth, we '11 never part ; 
You 'U reign forever in my fond, true heart." 
Then raising Hylas, sleeping, in her arms, 
She paused awhile to gaze upon his charms ; 
Then stole along the reedy, sedgy bank. 
And with her burden in the deep pool sank. 
Poor Hylas never would be seen again ; 
He doubtless died with water on the brain. 
To be exact, his friend Asclepius, 
Would diagnose it hydrocephalus. 

Next morn they searched the woods for 
miles around, 
But gentle Hylas never more was found. 
Then Hercules, and Polyphemus, too, 
O'ercome with grief, resolved to leave the 

crew. 
And stay behind to search both far and near. 
To find some trace of Hylas, loved so dear. 

50 



y^^K 



3 






"^A 




Then with sad hearts the others went 

aboard ; 
To lose three comrades they could ill afford ; 
But Jason said, and so did all the rest, 
Whatever the fates decreed, that were the best, 
A bright effulgent light then shone around, 
And from the waves arose a fearful sound ; 
Then from the sea old Glaucus raised his head, 
And to the wondering crew the sea-god said : 

** O, Jason, and ye heroes of his quest, 
*T is true, indeed, that what *s decreed is best ; 
Grieve not for Hercules, nor Hylas, fair, 
Nor Polyphemus ; for the gods declare 
That Hercules to Argos must return, 
His twelve great labors to perform, to earn 
A life among the deathless gods, ye see ; 
And Polyphemus, 't is declared that he 
Must found a city where you camped last 

night. 
And everything that 's happened is just right ; 
For Hylas now's a very happy spouse, 
And with his lovely wife is keeping house; 
They keep a famous ocean swell resort, 
And Hylas now 's a famed aquatic sport. 
So bid farewell to every vain regret ; 
You Ve got enough to think about, you bet ! ** 



51 



ARGUMENT. 

They reach Bithynia. Amycus, king of the Be- 
bryces, having challenged any of them to box with him, 
is slain by Polydeuces, and in the subsequent fight many 
of the Bebryces fall. At Salmydessa in Thrace they 
find blind Phineus, whom the sons of Boreas relieve from 
the attacks of the Harpies. In return he tells them of 
their voyage. Hence they come to the Symplegades, 
and, after escaping through them, are received by 
Lycus, king of the Mariandyni. Idmon and Tiphys die 
there. They meet with strange adventures among the 
Chalybes, Tibareni, and Mossynoeci. Coming to an 
island infested by ** the birds of Ares,** they pick up the 
shipwrecked sons of Chalciope, who henceforth serve 
them as guides to Colchis. — (Adapted from the Scho- 
liasts.) 

53 



Then 



HEY sailed all day with wind 
abaft and free ; 
And all felt grieved to lose 

their comrades three. 
They sailed all night till dawn, 
the wind still fair, 
when the wind went down, to oars 




(a 



repair ; 
And just at sunrise anchored in a bight 
Beneath Posideum headland, on the right. 
Here Amycus the giant king did dwell. 
King of the Bebryces, and known quite well 
To be a champion pugilist and tough, 
At least he held the belt, and talked enough. 
He made a law that none dared disobey : 
That every stranger, chance threw in his 

way, 
Should have a fight with him, a boxing 

match ; 
He always killed his man — he got no scratch. 
The ship was gently rocking on her keel ; 
The Argonauts had had their morning meal, 
And on the shore were sitting round the fire, 
While O^-pheus sang and played his tuneful 

lyre. 
Then Amycus came stalking down the shore, 
And like a surly lion loud did roar ; 
^^What ho! ye thieves, marauders, sailor 

men! 
You Ve landed here without permission; then 
Know ye that I am Amycus, the king. 
And in your faces I my challenge fling : 
The boldest man must fight me on the spot. 





This is my law, and see ye fail me not ; 
Trot out your man ; this favor I Vc allowed, 
Or single-handed I '11 clean out the crowd." 

|IVE us a rest, good king/' then 
Jason said, 
**Or I will be compelled to 

punch your head." 
'^You're talking thro' your 
helmet, Amycus ; " 
Said Pollux, champion boxer, ** one of us 
Could give you cards and spades, casino, too, 
And knock you out ; an easy thing to do." 
'^A bad man from Bebrycia, is this king/' 
Said Erginus, ** I '11 wager an>ihing 
That he does all his fighting thro' the press." 
** The press of circumstances, I should guess," 
Rejoined Tiphys, ** and the proper thing 
Would be to grant his pressing suit, this 

king." 
*^AI1 right," said Pollux, ** that suits me, you 

know, 
And at his royal nibs I II have a go." 

And Amycus then smiled with inward joy. 
To think how quick he 'd pulverize this boy. 
Then Jason marked a ring upon the sand ; 
And at one side the Argonauts did stand, 
And at the other side stood Amycus 
And all his crowd, quite eager for a muss. 
Then Pollux laid aside his robe and cloak. 
And to his brother. Castor, then he spoke : 
^'You'll be my second, Castor, in this 
fight; 





r"- — 



^Ol 




Ampulla-holder, Idas; that's all rig^ht; 
And Jason will be umpire, all agree ; 
And Amycus may choose the referee/' 
Then Amycus he chose Lycoreus ; 
His seconds, Aretus and Oryntus. 

And now the seconds bound the thongs 

of hide 
About their hands — stood ready by their 

side. 
Then Pollux spoke and said i " Since you 

are king, 
PII give you choice of sides in this round 

ring/' 
But Amycus, impatient, tossed his head. 
And scorned the generous offer, as he said : 
**Oh, talk is cheap; Fve had enough of that; 
I 'm ready now to fight at drop of hat/' 
^^AIl right/' said Pollux, ^^I will do that 

thing," 
And shied his brother Castor in the ring; 
Because that was the proper thing to do ; 
All first-class mills start up that way; 'tis 

true. 
The combatants were ready in the ring. 
And Pollux smiled ; not so the surly king ; 
A thunder cloud sat on his regal brow. 
His big and burly form erect ; and now 
His ponderous fists he put before his face — 
He stood, a giant bruiser, in his place. 
And Pollux, tall and graceful, full of zeal ; 
His form well-knit and muscles hard as steel ; 
The hero of a hundred fights was he. 
The champion of the caestus, all agree. 



57 



<^ 




J^ITTLE FISHES 





HEN Jason gave the word, the 
burly king 
Rushed like a goaded bull around 

the ring, 
His long arms striking out on 

every side, 
To force the fighting now he 
vainly tried ; 
But Pollux, wary, warded every blow ; 
He wished to learn the method of his foe. 
The first round done, and not a blow was 

struck ; 
The king disgusted with his sorry luck, 
And great beads dripping from his face, he 

cried : 
** Is this a fight or foot-race ; who *1I decide ? ** 
** I guess it is,^^ said Pollux, laughing hard, 
** It seems you Ve good at neither, old blow- 
hard/^ 
Then Jason gave the word again and 
smiled ; 
He said : ** O, king, be gentle with the child/' 
Then Pollux quickly with his left let fly. 
And landed squarely on the king's right eye. 
'^ First blow for Pollux!'' said the umpire; 

then 
The seconds rubbed, and then, refreshed the 
men. 
Then, at the word, both came up to the 
scratch; 
It now looked like a genuine slugging match. 
As blow for blow resounded thro' the air ; 
** The king is groggy ! " Jason did declare. 



58 



IS 



^^^ 



^. 



The king then launched a fearful right hand 

blow 
That would have felled an ox — it was no go^ 
For Pollux ducked his head, it grazed his ear, 
And swinging round his left he put it clear 
Upon the kingly nose ; the claret flew ; 
''First blood for Pollux!'' shouted all the 

crew. 
Another round ; the king was rather slow ; 
One eye was closed, and still the blood did 

flow; 
His beard was soaked with bloody froth and 

foam, 
'Twere best for him if he had stayed at 

home; 
But mad with pain and rage he fumed and 

roared, 
Like some great beast by spear of hunter 

gored. 
On Pollux now he rushed with desperate 

strength; 
The blows fell thick and fast, until at length 
Brave Pollux dealt a solar plexus blow 
Full on his chest, and down the king did go. 
** First knock-down blow for Pollux ! '' all did 

cry; 
And cheers and shouts for Pollux rent the 

sky. 
The men were groomed and rested once 

again, 
Though Pollux seemed quite fresh and strong; 

and then. 
He had not lost his temper, which is bad, 







I^ITTHE FISHES 



For whom the gods destroy they first make 

mad. 
He took a pull at the ampulla, and, 
Of course, he came up smiling to his stand. 
Poor Amycus was in a dreadful plight, 
Tho^ still expecting he would win the fight ; 
He never had been vanquished, heretofore ; 
But then he ^d never met his match before. 

E staggered to the center of the 
ring, 
His hide-bound fists before his 

face did bring. 
And worked them back and 
forth in bruiser style, 
And roared and cursed and fretted all the 

while. 
He had a poultice on his battered eye. 
Yet loud and boastful was his proud defy ; 
A compress on his broken, bloody nose. 
Yet every inch a king, and bold his pose. 
He rushed at Pollux, striking fast and 
hard; 
But Pollux, ever watchful, kept his guard ; 
Stood fast and firm — he knew his tactics 

now — 
A fair exchange of blows he did allow ; 
Such fearful blows, as they each other 

knock. 
It made them quake from head to heels — the 

shock. 
And Amycus gave Pollux many thwacks, 
And Pollux gave the king as many whacks. 

60 




Then Amycus, encouraged, sparred for 
breath. 
Then made a rush for victory or death. 
And Pollux now determined that the fight 
Should end this round — in that he was quite 

right. 
He now advanced upon his kingly foe, 
In scientific manner dealt a blow 
That staggered Amycus, and broke his jaw ; 
Then mauled with right and left his features 

raw; 
Knocked out his teeth, and battered sore his 

head, 
ICnocked off one ear, and hanging by a thread 
The other one ; and then the scalp, with gore. 
From forehead to the royal crown he tore ; 
And then with all his force he gave a blow 
That broke his neck, and down the king 

did go, 
A shapeless mass of common human clay. 
The king was dead, and Pollux won the day I 
The Bebryces, aghast, were stricken dumb, 
To see their king, invincible, succumb; 
They seized their clubs with murderous in- 
tent, 

ND madly rushed at Pollux ; 
then gave vent 
To howls of rage and hate — 

for vengeance cried ; 
But Jason and the rest flew 

to his side; 
With sword and spear they 
soon drove back the horde, 

61 




<:^ 





And cut and slashed, and thrust and pierced, 

and bored; 
Ancaeus with his battle-axe did chop, 
And cut and carve, and from their bodies lop 
Their heads and limbs ; he killed, I think, a 



score 



The rest, they killed as many, maybe more, 
And would have killed them all, perhaps, if they 
Had not concluded then to run away. 




HE Argonauts did celebrate 
that night. 
The happy ending of this 

unsought fight; 
And to Apollo offered sac- 
rifice; 

There all the honor and the glory lies. 
And Orpheus extemporized and sung 
An ode to Pollux, and his praises rung ; 
And with an olive wreath the hero crowned ; 
Then all with wine and song the troubles 
drowned. 
Next morn the quiet day broke bright and 
fair; 
The swallows circled high up in the air ; 
The sea-gulls in their swift erratic flight, 
Skimmed o^er the water blue, on pinions 

white ; 
The shore-birds piped and twittered on the 

sand; 
And peace and quiet reigned o^er sea and land. 
The dead men lying on the blood-stained 
shore, 

62 




Had peace and quiet found for evermore. 
The smoke from altar fires still smouldering, 

rose 
Like holy incense, for the calm repose 
Of those unhappy souls, that passed away 
From out those ruined tenements of clay. 
The Argo now was under way again, 
And rowing slowly were the tired men, 
When just in time a breeze, both fresh and 

fair, 
Was sent by Neptune, for they were his 

care; 
And soon into the Bosporus they sailed, 
Whose swirling tide the Argo stemmed, and 

quailed 
Before a mighty wave, that mountain high, 
Came rushing down between the sea and 

sky. 
And threatened to engulf and overwhelm 
The gallant ship; but Tiphys turned the 

helm 
And climbed and mounted o'er the mighty 

wave, 
And by his skill the ship and crew did save. 
This danger passed, they sailed all day and 

night. 
Till the Bithynian land was reached all right. 
They anchored in the haven of the town 
Called Salmydessa, and of some renown ; 
For here dwelt Phineus, the prophet-king, 
So wise, in fact, that he knew every thing ; 
The past and present, and the future, too, 
He knew just like a book, and read it through. 

63 



<:^ 




I^JTTUE FISHES 



__^ W iP WI I J. II ^^, 





LITTLE learning is a dangerous 

thing, 
But too much knowledge ruined 

this Thracian king ; 
He grew so wise he thought to 

rival Jove, 
Who struck him blind ; and Har- 
pies with him strove 
At every meal, and snatched his food away ; 
No morsel did they suffer any day 
To pass his lips, until the food they 'd spoiled 
With putrid, reeking odors ; thus they foiled 
The poor blind king, who gladly would have 

died; 
But he was doomed to live, all joy denied* 

Now Zetes and Calais of the crew. 
And sons of Boreas, the north wind, too. 
Were blood relations of this prophet king, 
And they, it was decreed, should succor bring 
To this poor, feeble, persecuted man. 
Who long had suffered sore from Jove^s dread 
ban. 
Now Phineus a banquet did prepare, 
A costly, sumptuous, recherche affair, 
To honor Jason and the heroes all, 
And bade them welcome to the royal hall ; 
For though a poor., afflicted monarch, he 
Was rich in worldly goods, as misery. 

And seated round the festive board, that 
night. 
He called each hero by his name, aright ; 
For, by his divination, well he knew 
The object of the Argo, and her crew. 

64 





^OO/^Zj 




He gave them much advice as to their course, 
Forewarned them of the dangers, and their 

source ; 
And told them of the awful floating rocks, 
The Symplegades, and their clashing shocks, 
That ground to pieces everything that tried 
To force a passage to the other side. 
But, for a guide, he gave to them a dove, 
A harbinger of peace, good will and love ; 
For well he knew that Jason and the rest 
Would soon deliver him from his great pest. 
The Harpies ; and quite happy did he feel, 
That he would soon enjoy a good square 

meal. 

OW, when the Argonauts 
were satisfied 
With viands choice, and all 

their wants supplied. 
The king then from his 
royal chair of state, 
Did take a roasted quail upon his plate. 
He dared not eat till all the rest were through, 
In deff^rence to their appetites ; he knew 
The Harpies would swoop down, and then 

pollute. 
All food that he dared touch — flesh, bread or 

fruit. 
And give to it so foul a smell and taste. 
That all would leave the banquet hall in 
haste. 






IITTLE FISHES 





O when the king the quail put on 

his plate, 
The Harpies came, afraid they M 

be too fate; 
They came with shrieks, flew 

thro^ the open door, 
And snatched his food away, 

and hovered o'er 



fair. 
While from their necks streamed manes of 

lonp; black hair ; 
Instead of fingers, long black talons grew. 
And o'er the king these grewsome creatures 

flew; 
And such a putrid stench filled all the air, 
'Twas more than human flesh and blood 

could bear. 
The brothers, Zetes and Calais, drew 
Their swords, and on their wing'd heels 

swiftly flew. 
And chased the Harpies, shrieking, from the 

hall; 
They ne'er appeared again; but that's not 

all; 
The food was then examined, then found 

out — 
'Twas all Limburger cheese and sauerkraut. 
And now, next morn, good Phineus, the 

king. 
Gave presents to the crew of everything 
To help them on their way, and please the 

eye; 






.^. 



On long black wings, with women's faces f 4^ 






i 



i, 






L 




^j^"-^^^ -22 




^OOJ^JJ 




Corn, wine and oil, and cloth of deepest dye, 
And well- wrought arms, and gems and jewels 

rare; 
And gave them sage advice for every care ; 
His troubles with the Harpies being o^er. 
They loosed the double cables from the 

shore ; 
The heroes with stout arms the long oars 

plied. 
The Argo left the harbor on the tide ; 
And Juno rode upon a cloud on high, 
To watch, and guard their progress, from the 

sky. 
Much need of help the heroes soon would 

feel. 
Though now they swiftly sailed on even keel. 
Far off they saw the narrow, rocky strait. 
The towering, beetling cliffs that formed the 

gate. 
Thro* which they soon would be compelled 

to pass. 
Along the winding passage ; and, alas I 
Right in this narrow strait, between two seas, 
The rocks Cyanean — Symplegades — 
The dreaded dashers, back and forth did 

roll; 
No living thing had ever passed them, whole. 
And soon they met the rushing, swirling 

tide. 
And furious eddies whirled on every side ; 
High rocky walls rose straightway from the 

shores ; 
With scarcely room to ply their labored oars. 




67 





J^ITTLE FISHES 



And through this dark and dreadful rocky 

The gallant Argo straight ahead did forge; y^|^ 



O'er whirlpools black, and hissing currents ^ 

through, 
She forged ahead, urged by her willing crew. 




HEY heard the clash, and felt 
the fearful shocks, 
That came resounding from 

the floating rocks. 
Then soon they saw those 
dreadful shapes arise 
From out the sea, and tower toward the skies ; 
They floated back against the cliffs, and then 
Rushed toward the center, where they met 

again. 
(A double-acting trap it was, in fine. 
And bound to work, a-comin* or a-gwine.) 
The heroes were appalled, dismayed ; the 
sight 
Struck terror to their hearts, and well it might. 
It seemed a hopeless task to persevere. 
They never could go through ; that was most 

clear. 
Then Tason's voice was heard above the din : 
** My heroes brave, this game we Ve bound 

to win! 
The dove that Phineus, the king, gave me. 
Will surely guide us to the Euxine Sea ; 
If she in safety past the rocks doth fly. 
Then we may safely pass the Clashcrs by ; 
Now Lynceus, who has such famous sight. 






Vi 




&m 




Will stand upon the prow and mark her 

flight!^' 
Then Lynceus, the gray dove in his hand, 
Upon the vessels prow did firmly stand ; 
And when the rocks were opening, let her go ; 
She darted like an arrow from a bow, 
And through the narrow chasm winged her 

flight- 
The dashers came together in their might ; 
The dove had safely passed, except the tip 
Of one tail feather, that the rocks did clip. 

This, Lynceus, with his keen eye did spy. 
And saw her safely mounting toward the 

sky; 
And loudly did he shout to warn the crew. 
When at the last she safely fluttered thro^ 
Then Tiphys gave the word to row with 

speed. 
And bravely then the heroes rowed, indeed ; 
And Jason urged them onward; still they 

toiled ; 
The waves dashed o^er the deck, the water 

boiled; 
And now the rocks were parting at their 

prow. 
And to their oars with double strength they 

bow. 
The howling, whistling blast, blew hoarse 

and strong, 
stronger still the Argo moved along ; 
The rushing, foam-capped torrent, swiftly 

passed, 
swifter still the Argo moved at last ; 




69 



^ 



^'^^^^ 




YE (TO'DS 6^ 

hlTTUE FISHES 





631 




'Mid dashing and the splashing of the waves, 
The roaring and the booming of the caves, 
*Mid crashing and the clashing of the rocks, 
The buffetings and blows and heavy shocks — 
Still faster sped the Argo, like a flash — 
The Clashers now were closing with a crash. 

MIGHTY, arching wave, 

the Argo tossed, 
And checked her speed ; then 

all, indeed, seemed lost I 
But Juno, ever faithful, with 
one hand 

Held back the rock; and Jason gave command 
To row for life, and all they held most dear ! 
Then Juno with her right hand pushed her 

clear ! 
The rocks then closed behind the gallant ship. 
And from her high-peaked stem a piece did clip. 
Behind them closed the rocks for evermore, 
For so it was decreed long time before. 
That should a ship and crew pass safely 

through. 
One rock they should become, instead of two ; 
And firmly bound and rooted to the shore, 
And leave an open passage evermore. 

The tired crew with willing hands then 
spread 
The lofty sail ; the Argo rushed ahead 
Before a timely breeze both fresh and free, 
Along the border of the Euxine Sea. 
The river Rhebas, rock Colone, and 
The river Phyllis, with its bar of sand. 




ti\ 





^OOK^Ij 





Were swiftly passed ; the wind still fresh and 

fair, 
And day and night they sailed, nor thought 

of care; 
*TiII just at twilight on the third day out, 
The helmsman Tiphys put the ship about. 
And anchored in the lee of Thynian isle ; 
Right glad the crew to go ashore, awhile. 
While seated round the camp-fire, burning 

bright. 
There came a sudden flash and greater 

light; 
The god Apollo quickly passed them by. 
As fast he sped between the earth and sky. 
The Argonauts were terror-stricken, quite. 
And bowed their heads till he was out of sight ; 
And then a sacrifice they did prepare. 
And hymns to Phoebus rose upon the air ; 
And Orpheus performed a song and dance. 
In honor of the lucky circumstance. 

With weather fair, and favoring gales 

next day. 
Again they started on their watery way ; 
And soon they passed the stream Sangarius, 
The Lycus, and the lake Anthemous ; 
And all that night the wind blew half a 

gale; 
They still pursued their way with shortened 

sail; 
And in the morning anchored just behind 
The Acherusian headland, and did find 
A harbor safe and pleasant, in the lee 
Of this bold headland of the Euxine Sea. 



1 

Ml 





IITTLE FISHES 



^BSff^s^ 




ND here the Mariandyni did 
dwell, 
And good and wise king Lycus 

ruled them well ; 
And he a welcome warm to 

Jason gave, 
And all the Argonauts, the he- 
roes brave, 
Who fought and whipt the cruel Bcbryces, 
Who long had been his dreaded enemies. 

And Lycus gave to Pollux presents rare, 
A golden badge and champion belt to wear, 
For knocking out and killing Amycus, 
The double-fisted bruiser — hateful cuss ! 
And Pollux said to Jason: ^^Don^t you see? 
King Lycus seems to like us — you and me/' 
But, Lycus gave to each and every one, 
Some token for the battle they had won; 
And Atalanta, fair, was not ignored. 
She got a jeweled cup, also a sword ; 
Her heart was full, so full she could not 

speak. 
So Atalanta kissed his royal check. 

For many days the heroes lingered here, 
The guests of Lycus, and his princely cheer. 
The nobles of the court, a noble clan. 
The Mariandyni, and Mary Ann — 
Or some such name — King Lycus* 

spouse. 
Did entertain and keep an open house, 
And strive to please; in fact they did their 

best, 
Li honor of the heroes and their quest. 



noble 



^»:2^5i 





The Argonauts and Mariandyni 
In all athletic games and sports did vie ; 
In games on land, aquatic sports as well. 
In all of these the heroes did exceL 

The tournament for shooting with the bow 
Was won by Atalanta, for although 
Brave Meleager tied her in the bout, 
_ She beat her beau ideal, miss and out ; 
/I Although a miss, she never scored a miss — 
(It seems to me there *s something queer in 

this)— 
If women ever voted in that day. 
No doubt she voted as she shot, alway. 

And Castor, Oileus and Idas, 
Took all the prizes in the throwing class 
With spear and javelin — it went their way ; 
For they were men of mark; good marks- 
men they. 

And Jason with the discus, or the quoit. 
Of all the others proved the most adroit ; 
Defeated Peleus, with a wondrous score. 
The champion of the discus, heretofore. 
He held the record at the Pythian meet. 
And until now had never met defeat. 

And Telamon, in wrestling, took first 
prize; 
He always threw his man, whatever his size. 
But never threw the game, as men now do — 
The hippodrome *s a modem thing, and new. 
In olden time they wrestled for the crown 
Of laurel leaves, and threw each other down ; 
The stadium was crowded — it was free ; 
The best man always won, as it should be ; 

73 




^^^^,As^^^^^ 



<r> _ r^ 




YE G^O'DS 6^ 

UTTUE FISHES 





But now-a-days the thing ^s all cut and dried, 

The principals the principal divide; 

They squirm and double, fall by turns, and 

so — 
The people pay to see the sorry show. 

For when the least excited he 

hit hard — 
Ancaeus won the prize, for he 
was best, 

He fought with fists, and gave his mouth a 
rest. 
In all the chariot races Castor won ; 
When he was through, some scarcely had 

begun. 
He held the record on the stadic course. 
Knew all about a chariot and a horse ; 
^Twas not much use for any to compete — 
When Castor held the reins, he won the heat; 
On chariot wheels he run so well, they say. 
Our little wheels are casters still, to-day. 

Foot races then were much enjoyed by all ; 
And many were the sprinters, short and tall.^ 
Calais held the Pythian record ; true. 
Some said he used his wings — both run and 

flew; 
But wings on this occasion were ruled out. 
King Lycus made the rules and terms, no 

doubt ; 
*Twas his opinion, pinions should be barred. 
And legs alone should get an entry card. 



vV--^v (T _ 



^<^=->: 






■^^^.^s^ 



03 



/> 



Calais^ notwithstanding^ won the first, 
The stadion, and like a meteor burst 
Around the course, and run with legs and 

feet, 
But really seemed to fly, he was so fleet. 

By Euphemus the next foot race was won. 
Though closely pressed by Erginus, who run 
So fast and well, that cheers and shouts arose 
To cheer him on ; but just before the close 
He tripped and fell — the golden cup was lost ; 
This slip, betwixt the cup and lip, the cost. 

Then Atalanta won the free for all. 
As graceful as a deer, so lithe and tall; 
A spinster sprinter who outstripped the rest — 
I mean outran, I think that sounds the best — 
Her little feet seemed scarce to touch the 

ground. 
As twice the stadium she ran around. 
And all the others, left she, far behind; 
The queen, herself, the laurel wreath en- 
twined 
About her shapely head, and kissed her brow; 
Such grace and speed sheM never seen till 

now. 
** You must be very tired, dear,^^ she said, 
**You breathe in such short pants; you^re 

nearly dead.^' 
** Oh, never mind,** said Atalanta, fair, 
** When married, longer breeches I will wear.** 

In leaping, Zetes won the olive crown ; 
He jumped so high it seemed he*d ne*er come 

down; 
Fair leaping, too, it was ; his purple wings 





75 




I^ITTUE "FISHES % 



Were folded 
strings. 



close^ and tied with leathern 




HE great event of that eventful 
day, 
Was racing on the water of 

the bay ; 
But only two in this race could 
compete — 
Euphemus and At'Ianta; who so fleet, 
That they could run dry shod upon the sea. 
And run they did that day, as all agree. 
They started from the ship and ran ashore. 
About two hundred yards, or little more ; 
Euphemus won the race, was first to land; 
The boy more buoyant was, you understand ; 
At'lanta would have won in ten yards more. 
She touched his shoulder as he touched the 
shore. 
Now this account some may think over- 
drawn. 
To run on water as upon a lawn ; 
ni make it plain and feasible, I hope: 
For sandals they had cakes of ivory soap, 
Which could not sink ; and these their bodies 

bore — 
So with the soap they washed themselves 
ashore. 
The heralds then announced that on next 
day 
The Argo and her crew would sail away ; 
That on the following morn there would take 

place 
A novel and peculiar chariot race ; 

76 



A chariot race, they said, without a horse, 
One never seen before on any course ; 
Not at the game Olympian, nor at 
The Pythian or Nemean ; and that 
The sons of Boreas would run the race, 
Both Zetes and Calais strive for place. 

Now Zetes, with some rods of brass, and 

reeds. 
And chariot wheels, made two velocipedes. 
With pedals on the front wheel, handle bar, 
And saddles made of shields ; they were by far. 
The most astounding chariots ever seen — 
Bicycles we would call them now, I ween. 
Thus, Zetes was the father of the bike ; 
His progeny to-day are not much like 
Their rude progenitors ; but as to speed — 
Well, that's another story, as you'll read. 
At all events, the bikes were stout and 

strong. 
And on their broad wheels smoothly rolled 

along. 
The hubs and spokes and felloes made of 

wood; 
With thick broad tires of brass, and welded 

good; 
But no pneumatic tubes, so much admired — 
'Tis punctured tires that make the fellows 

tired. 
Now Zetes and Calais both had wings. 
On heels, like Mercury ; and with these things 
They chased the Harpies, screaming, through 

the air. 
From the Bithynian land to Crete — their lair. 



77 




LITTLE FISHES t 



/^^^ 5^^t-:;:^^N 




n 


1 


^ 




EXT morning Lycus and the 
queen and court 
Assembled early, eager for the 

sport ; 
The stadium was crowded; 

all were there ; 
The Argonauts the guests of 
ladies, fair ; 
And Atalanta at the king^s right hand, 
The place of honor held in the grand stand ; 
And Jason sat beside the lovely queen ; 
Such grace and beauty ne'er before was seen. 
And now when everything was all pre- 
pared, 
The heralds blew their trumpets, and de- 
clared : 
The sons of Boreas would now compete, 
And race in horseless chariots ; a feat. 
The heralds added, heretofore unknown, 
And one unique, as every one would own. 
Then Zetes and Calais on their wheels. 
Propelled by pedals, now appeared ; and peals 
Of loud applause, and trumpets blare did greet 
The brothers, as they drove their wheels so 

fleet. 
The ladies, wreaths and garlands rare, did 

fling. 
As they rode up abreast betore the king. 
Who gave the word and dropped the flag, and 

then — 
Away they sped around the course, and when 
The wings upon their heels were brought in 
play, 

78 



V. 



V 



As swift as hawks they speeded on their way ; 
The heavy wheels seemed scarce to touch the 

ground, 
As o'er the course the brothers flew around. 

Such lightning speed was never seen before ; 
Old Boreas, himself, could do no more, 
As scorching swiftly round the course they 

race, 
The axles fairly smoking with the pace. 
Calais was ahead, till at the turn, 
His hubs began to blaze and fiercely burn ; 
Then Zetes forged ahead and kept the lead, 
Calais followed closely, and, indeed. 
He lapped the hind wheel of his brother's bike. 
As underneath the score they passed, much 

like 
Two fiery meteors with smoking trail. 
And such a splendid record could not fail 
To cause the wild excitement that arose ; 
The loud huzzas and cheers that at the close 
Did greet the brothers both; and each was 

crowned 
With laurel wreaths — tumultuous then the 

sound. 
The king gave Zetes, then, a cup and ring ; 
A richly broidered scarf the queen did fling 
About the neck of Calais — and so. 
The novel race was ended, and the show. 
The king had planned a royal hunt that 

day 
To please his guests, if they could only stay ; 
And Jason was persuaded to forego 
His sailing, for another day or so ; 

79 





J^ITTLE FISHES f 




■ — :; ' 




^ 


1 



He would have sailed that very day, alas ! 
Could he have known the thing that came to 
pass* 

HE hunt had proved a great 
success for all, 
And many were the trophies, 

great and small. 
Returning toward the town in 
joyous mood, 
A fierce and wounded boar rushed from a 

wood, 
And with his cruel tusks he ripped and tore 
The seer Idmon, who was wounded sore ; 
Then Peleus ran up and with his spear 
He pierced the boar ; and Idas being near. 
With his great battle axe he cleft its head ; 
This done, they found their comrade Idmon, 

dead! 
Poor Idmon, who his own death had foretold, 
In this great quest to seize the Fleece of Gold. 

They bore the lifeless hero to the town. 
And manly tears they shed, their grief to 

drown. 
And then upon the heels of this great woe 
There came a greater one, could that be so; 
The helmsman Tiphys, bitten by a snake. 
Was also dead — enough their hearts to break. 
They buried their loved comrades by the sea. 
And mourned for days with heartfelt agony. 
They sailed away at last, with many 
fears. 
And Lycus sped his parting guests with tears ; 

80 






i 



>x 



And Dascylus, his son and heir, he sent — 
As some small recompense, was his intent — 
To join and aid the heroes in their quest ; 
To make amends he did his very best. 

Ancaeus, now the helmsman, steered the 

ship; 
A beam wind blowing, caused the sail to dip, 
As fast upon her way the Argo sped. 
The river Callichorus just ahead. 
And soon the tomb of Sthenelus, the brave, 
Upon the beach, washed by the salt sea 

wave. 
Was seen upon the starboard bow, a-Iee — 
A surfeit of the surf, indeed, had he. 
(This warrior bold by woman^s hand was 

slain; 
An arrow wound — but deep enough, *tis 

plain — 
Inflicted by an Amazonian maid ; 
And Hercules, his friend, the last rites paid.) 
And now the heroes saw a fearful sight — 
The ghost of Sthenelus, in armor bright — 
His helmet with four plumes and blood-red 

crest ; 
Upon his tomb he stood, and looked his best; 
He gazed and smiled at Jason and his crew, 
Then waved his hand and quickly passed from 

view. 
Then sailing on and on with favoring 

breeze. 
They saw ere long beneath the willow trees, 
The stream Parthenius, so fair and bright ; 
The city Sesamus was passed at night ; 







I^ITTLE FISHES 



The Erythinian hills, Crobialus, 
And Cromne, and the wooded Cytorus 
Were passed; Carambis then was left astern; 
They sailed ag:ain all day and night, in turn. 

iNON they reached the river 
Halys, where 
They anchored for a day or 

two, and there 
They filled their jars with water, 

fresh and sweet ; 
The sons of Deimachus here 
they meet — 
Deileon and Phlogius, also 
Brave Autolycus, all of whom we know 
Had fought, with Hercules, the Amazons ; 
And all were eager, these three noble sons. 
To join the quest, with Jason, for the Fleece, 
All for the glory and renown of Greece ; 
They signed the roll, and then embarked that 

day, 
And with the heroes gladly sailed away. 

While sailing on, there rose a heavy gale ; 
They laid the Argo to, and furled the sail ; 
Then manned the oars and labored with the 

sea. 
Made for the land, a harbor and a lee. 
The headland of the Amazons in sight. 
They doubled to their oars and rowed with 

might ; 
The headland then they weathered, and at 

last 
They safely in the shekered harbor passed. 

82 



y 




And here they found good fishing, for it 
seems 
The Thermodon is formed of many streams ; 
About a hundred branches, large and small, 
And many kinds of fishes in them all. 
With slender reeds for rods, and silken lines. 
The heroes found good sport beneath the 

pines. 
And oaks, and olive trees, that fringed the 

shore 
Of each bright stream; a stream for each, 
and more. 
They fished with bait and artificial fly ; 
To catch the biggest fish they all did try. 
The small ones they threw back again, to 

grow; 
They did not fish for count, but size, you 

know. 
This goes to show that in the olden time. 
To fish for count was thought to be a crime ; 
It seems quite clear the fish-hog was unknown. 
For he belongs to modern days, we Ml own — 
A fishing dude, who catches great and small. 
But mostly fingerlings, and counts them all. 

Now, Atalanta had the nicest rig, 
And all the fish she killed were game and 

big; 
Her rod, a straight and slender, supple reed ; 
Her flies, tied by herself, were rare, indeed ; 
Her cast, composed of three artistic flies. 
To all the heroes was a great surprise. 






UCH hooks IVe never seen/' /Ti// 
said Telamon, 
**They Ve very small, but very 

good, I '11 own/' v^i 

" My fishing hooks/' she said, C^ 

** are sharp and fine, 
I had them made from pattern 
wholly mine; 
The shape is something new, you may de- 
pend. 
And I have named the hook the 'Grecian 
Bend.'" 
** Now, tell me, Atalanta," Jason said, 
'* What have you named this fly, with wings 

so red ? " 
** That fly," said Atalanta, with much pride, 
''Is 'Maid of Athens.'" Then the others 

cried: 
" It 's made of feathers ! "— " Yes, and hand- 
made, too." — 
"If 'Maid of Athens/ it should then be 

blue."— 
"You're right," said she, "it's hand-fly in 

the cast, 
Byronically speaking, and the last. 
The middle one, the bob-fly, funny thing ! 
Is made of covert feathers from the wing 
Of Pegasus, and ' Peggy ' is its name ; 
Its flight is quite poetic ; all the same 
A right good fly ; its wings are also red ; 
For when Perseus lopped Medusa's head. 
And Pegasus sprang from her blood, of 
course, 

84 



We know he was a blooded, brig^ht bay- 
horse/^ 
** Why do n^t you name it * horse-fly ? * ** 

Castor said; 
But Atalanta only shook her head. 
** The end, or tail-fly, leader, if you choose. 
Is best of all ; a very clever ruse ; 
* Quicksilver Doctor,^ I have named this fly, 
So nimble, quick and lively, smart and 

spry; 
For Mercury IVe named it, pretty thing; 
It^s made of feathers from his right heel 

wing/* 
**If that^s the case/* said Meleager, then, 
** Why should n*t ^ heeler * be its cognomen ? 
Or * salivator/ I should call it sure/* — 
** I think vou*d better take the Keely Cure,** 
Said Atalanta, getting somewhat tired. 
But all the same, her flies were much 

mired. 
And fish rose freely to the clever lures — 
The deed, and not the name, 

success assures. 
Next day the Argo getting 

under way. 
The Amazons came trooping 

toward the bay. 
Their fighting harness on; 

and at their head 
Marched queen Hippolyte with 

martial tread 
But Jason and his crew were all aboard. 
And safe from Amazonian spear or sword. 

85 



ad- 



113 




1 




HEN queen Hippolyte approached 
the shore ; 
With angry voice proclaimed she 

was for war 
With all marauding ships and 

roving men ; 
** Be off 1 " she cried, *' and do not 
come again; 
Hereafter, fishing rights will be reserved, 
And game and fish, by law, will be pre- 
served ; 
The bank of every stream will bear the sign : 
* No Fishing Here,^ and death will be the 

fine/' 
** Good queen,'* quoth Jason, ** that is hardly so, 
For we found fishing very good, you know ; 
A sign so false would never, never do ; 
As you are good and beautiful, be true. 
We came to fish, and do not care to fight ; 
We only took the large ones, which is right ; 
The small ones we threw back again to 

grow/' 
** If that 's the case," replied the queen, ** then 

know 
That you are welcome any time to fish 
In all my streams, and come whene'er you 

wish/' 
The heroes thanked the queen, with one ac- 
cord — 
Thus angling virtue finds its own reward. 
And now the Argo left the land-locked 
bay; 
With sail unfurled, proceeded on her way. 



86 




«?5- 



><, 



Next day, toward night, the smoke borne on 

the breeze, 
Proclaimed the land where dwelt the Chalybes ; 
The mining folk who delved the iron ore. 
And worked amid the furnace smoke and 

roar. 
Then next they passed the headland bold 

and sheer. 
And named for mighty Zeus, whom all fear. 
And then they coasted by the rocky shore 
Where dwelt the Tibareni, men who bore 
Vicarious troubles — so it is averred — 
Which you may read in scholia, word for 

word. 
And then the Holy mountain rose in view. 
And hills where dwelt the Mossynoeci, too; 
These moss-backs, in their houses built of 

wood. 
Had customs very strange, I Ve understood ; 
What others in their houses always do. 
They always did outside, in public view. 
No room for scandal, then, it would appear. 
Among the Mossynoeci, that *s most clear ; 
They saw themselves as others saw them, 

too, 
In Nature^s mirror held to public view. 

All these they passed ; and rowing swiftly, 

now. 
The isle of Ares on their starboard bow 
Loomed up. A huge bird then came swoop- 
ing by, 
And from his pinion broad and swift let fly 
A feather, long and sharp, which quickly sped, 

87 






YE G^O'DS 6^ 

IITTLE FISHES 



And pierced the shoulder^ barely missed the 

head, 
Of brave Oileus, who dropped his oar ; 
Eribotes plucked out the shaft, all gore ; 
Then with his baldric bound the bleeding 

wound. 
The curious feathered shaft was passed 

around, 
And viewed with wonder by the Argo's crew. 

UST then another bird ap- 
peared and flew 
Above the mast, and shot a 

feathered dart. 
Which hissing thro* the air 

caused all to start. 
Save Clytius, who with his 
well-strung bow, 
And on the wing, soon laid the huge bird low. 
Then rose Amphidamas, and from his 
place. 
Declared the way, this danger new, to face: 
** The isle of Ares, I have heard,'* he said, 
"Is guarded well by these huge birds, so 

dread. 
When Hercules with arrows could not drive 
The birds Stymphalid, then did he contrive 
Another plan, which drove the birds away ; 
And this the plan we must adopt to-day. 

" That plan is now to raise a mighty din. 
By clashing sword and buckler ; this will win. 
When Hercules his brazen armor shook 




^Ui w With dreadful din, the frightened birds forsook 



li 



t\ 




The mere Stymphalid, filled with wild alarms; 
We *1I find mere noise annoys them more than 

arms/^ 
The heroes then their armor did put on ; 
Their brazen helmets also did they don. 
One-half the crew then roofed the vessel in 
With shields and bucklers ; then they made a 

din 
By clashing shield and buckler, sword and 

spear, 
The others rowed the ship with lessened fear, 
Protected by the metal roof overhead ; 
And swiftly toward the shore the Argo sped. 
The birds affrighted, from the island rose. 
And flew in terror from their noisy foes ; 
. They wildly shot their feathers all away, 
^M^ And dropped upon the sea in dire dismay; 

Their motive power and weapons thus they 

lost, 
And at the mercy of the waves were tossed. 
Thus, some highflyers at the present day, 
Their substance and their power throw away. 

Arriving at the isle, the heroes found 
Four shipwrecked sailors, weak and nearly 

drowned ; 
The sons of Phrixus, bound from Colchis land 
For Orchomenus, by the king^s command. 
For king JEctes, being warned, ^t is said. 
Of danger from his household, felt a dread 
Of these, his daughter Chalciope^s sons. 
And so the king this threatened danger shuns, 
By sending them to sea, and in a boat 
Unsafe and old, not fit to sail or float. 

89 



^-■, 




YE G^O'DS 6^ 
J^lTTLEyiSHES 





ND as foretold by Phineus, these 
four 
Agreed to go with Jason ; what 

is more : 
Agreed to guide the ship to -^a, 

where^ 
The king /Eetes reigned; whose 
constant care 
Was well to guard and keep the Golden Fleece, 
Stripped from the ram that bore from shores 

of Greece 
Their father Phrixus to the Colchian land — 
The Fleece that Jason now would soon de- 
mand. 
This Golden Fleece, the brothers did declare, 
Was guarded night and day with jealous care ; 
A sleepless dragon watched beneath the tree 
Whereon it hung, a glorious sight to see; 
Within the grove of Mars, a sacred thing. 
The greatest treasure of the wicked king. 
Next morn a gentle wind blew fresh and 
free, 
They left the isle of Ares on the lee ; 
And sailing on without mishap, all day, 
At night they passed the isle of Philyra. 
Philyra in the olden time did dwell 
About this isle, and Saturn knew it well ; 
This water nymph, Philyra, was the mere. 
Or mother, of the Centaur Chiron, fair. 

The Argo, favored by the welcome breeze. 
Sailed on and on, and passed the Macrones. 
The coast of Becheiri then was passed; 
The lawless Sapeira left at last; 



:§ 



'I 



Anon they heard heart-rending cries and 

shrieks, 
And saw an eagle soaring o^er the peaks, 
Where to a rock, bound fast with chains of 

brass, 
And afterward the Byzerae were left 
Astern, as onward thro' the waters cleft 
The good ship Argo, till arose in view 
The cliffs of the Caucasian mountains, blue. 
Prometheus was doomed the days to pass ; 
And on his liver, fed this dreadful bird ; 
And his, the fearful cries, the heroes heard. 
That night they reached their journey's 

end, at last. 
And furled the sail, unstepped the well-tried 

mast; 
And rowing slowly 'gainst the ebbing tide. 
They left the city JE^z, on one side. 
Till near the field of Ares, sacred grove, 
They anchored in a shady, sheltered cove. 
Then from a golden chalice, Jason poured 
Libations sweet ; the crew with one accord 
Gave thanks to all their guardian gods that 

they 
Had reached their journey's end, and blessed 

the day. 



♦EINDOF* 



BOOKn* 



91 



ARGUMENT. 

Hera and Athena persuade Aphrodite to send Eros 
to Medea. Meantime Jason comes to JEctcs^ king of 
Gjichis, and begs the Fleece; but the king was exceed- 
ing wroth, and set him great labors to perform, namely, 
to yoke two fire-breathing bulls, and sow the dragon's 
teeth upon Ares' acre, and then to slay the earth-born 
giants who should rise o'er the lea. 

But Medea is in love with Jason, and gives him 
drugs to tame those bulls, telling him how to accomplish 
all. Wherefore Jason finished the appointed task, to the 
grief and wonder of JEcics, — (Adapted from the Scho- 
liasts.) 

93 




"OH i^Ey 

ALLRlGHrr--- 





OW Jason held a coun- 
cil with his crew; 
They pondered well 
the thing they came 
to do; 
How best the Golden 
Fleece they might 
obtain, 

And take it back to lolchos again. 
The mighty king they held in wholesome 

dreadt 
The son of Helios, the sun, 't was said ; 
No king in all the world so great as he, 
The proud ^etes, lord of land and sea. 
The heroes then resolved to speak him 
fair, 
With friendly words; with precious gifts 

and rare. 
With all the arts of soft diplomacy. 
To soothe and flatter this great king, that he 
Might haply bid them take the Golden Fleece 
From Colchis to the sunny shores of Greece. 
But if fair means, their end to gain, should 

fail. 
Then strategy or force must e^en prevail. 
No terrors now, nor dangers, could subdue 
The ardor and the purpose of the crew. 

95 






'Y^&ot>S^^7^ 





UT Juno, faithful guardian, 
knew indeed, 
The quest without her aid 

would ne'er succeed ; 
So with Minerva she to 
Venus sped, 
And to the matchless queen of love she said : 
** My dearest Venus, we your help desire ; 
The quest of Jason is the question dire ; 
Without your aid, we fear he is undone ; 
Request we, therefore, that you send your 

son. 
Fair Cupid, with his arrows and his bow. 
To Colchis land ; in haste, too, must he go. 
The king, i^etes, hath a daughter fair, 
A comely maid, with wondrous golden hair. 
Well skilled in sorcVy, also, is this maid. 
Which she must use in noble Jason's aid. 
Now this our plan, Minerva's plan, and 

mine; 
Inspire Medea's soul with love divine; 
Bid Cupid wound her with his sharpest 

dart. 
And plant a love for Jason in her heart." 
** Most gracious goddess," Venus then 
replied, 
^^Your slightest wish shall be my law; 

beside. 
To help brave Jason in his noble quest, 
Is, I considar, quite a priv'lege blest. 
Cupid is shooting craps with Ganymede; 

96 



^^^fkHES 



VVl send him off, at once, with greatest 

speed. 
You may be sure that he will do his part, 
And hit the bull's-eye of Medea's heart/' 
The river fog hung low the following 

day, 
When Jason started for the town JE.a.. 
And with him went the sons of Phrixus, 

who. 
Were saved from shipwreck by the val'rous 

crew. 
Enveloped by the fog that Juno sent, 
And safe from prying eyes, their way they 

went 
Across the plain ; then through the city gate ; 
At last within the palace court they wait. 
Then Juno caused the cloud of mist to 

rise. 
And wondrous things disclosed to Jason's 

eyes. 
Around the court were marble columns 

tall. 
And brazen arms and armor graced the 

wall; 
And fountains spouting water, milk and 

wine 
And rare perfumes; while tree and plant 

and vine 
Bore luscious fruits, and flowers of gorgeous 

dyes; 
It seemed a glorious, earthly paradise. 

97 






y^G^02)J^~^- 




About the palace, then, the news soon 

spread, 
That Phrixus* sons, who, given up for dead, 
Had safe returned; the servants wept for joy; 
While Chalciope cried: '*My boy I my 

boyr^ 
Embraced each son in turn, and welcome 

gave 
To Jason, who had saved them from the 

grave. 

EDEA, fairest maid in all 
the land, 
A sorceress, with the fates 

at her command, 
A priestess of the goddess 
Hecate, 

No one so loved, nor yet so feared, as she. 
Yet modestly she stood aloof and gazed 
At Jason^s noble, princely mien ; amazed 
At such a paragon of form and face. 
More like a god, than of the human race. 

Then last of all came i^etes, the king, 
Who inward cursed the news that all did 

bring. 
That Phrixus* sons had all returned alive ; 
Some other murd Vous plan he must contrive. 
For Helios, his father, long ago. 
Had warned him Against a wily, dangerous 

foe 
Within his household, one of his own blood, 

98 




,.=^^C.^^ 




r i^'-rf^ES 



J=^ 



Whose secret plotting boded him no good. 
His son Absyrtus, and his daughters two, 
He knew were ever faithful, loyal, true. 
Upon his grandsons, then, suspicion fell; 
If rid of them, he thought all would be well; 
And long ago he *d sent them on this trip 
To Orchomenus, in a rotten ship; 
And feeling sure that they were dead or 

drowned, 
It vexed him much to hear that they M been 

found. 
Meanwhile the roguish Cupid, though 

unseen. 
Brushed close by Jason, touched him, too, 

I ween ; 
With arrow fitted to his tense-drawn bow. 
He made an off-hand shot, while kneeling 

low. 
That pierced the center of Medea^s heart ; 
She felt the shock of Cupid^s feathered dart. 
The pain was followed by a sweet desire. 
And love for Jason coursed her veins like 

fire; 
A fire unquenched by blood, for we know 

well. 
Love grows by what it feeds on — blood will 

tell. 
And now a feast of welcome was 

prepared. 
For Chalciope^s sons, whose lives were 

spared; 



99 




<4= 



L.ofO. 




ff"^'^^^ 




'Y^&o<D3<^ - 




And Jason, who had brought them safely 

home, 
No more on tempest-driven seas to roam. 

The king demanded, then, the eldest son. 
To tell him why his will had not been done ; 
Why he to Orchomenus had not sailed. 
And why the royal expedition failed. 

HE eldest son replied, with 
fear and dread : 
**0 king, the wonder is 

we are not dead ; 
The ship you gave us was 
both weak and old, 
And unseaworthy, as I Ve since been told. 
A stress of weather caused her seams to 

gape, 
She filled and sank; we then made our 

escape, 
And on our oars were glad to reach the 

shore. 
Borne by the raging seas, heart-sick and 
sore.** 
*^That*s nonsense,** cried the king, 
^^your ship was new. 
With planks of oak, and copper-fastened, 

too; 
With brazen bolts and bands . her keel was 

bound 
To keelson, stem, and stem-post, strong 
and sound; 

100 



^'-^fkflES 



I saw her buiitt myself, when but a youth, 
And know whereof I speak; and now, 

forsooth, 
You tell me she was old, and badly found, 
And foundered in a gale, because unsound ; 
Her planks not worth a copper, and her 

seams. 
It seems were opened 'twixt her oaken 

beams 
By stress of weather; whether this is true 
Or not, I do not know; the ship was new, 
I knew that long ago ; and I believe 
She struck a rock and opened like a sieve ; 
If not, how comes it that this other ship 
That rescued you, did safely sail and slip 
Through this same storm that wrecked 

your noble craft, 
Her timbers shivered, slivered, fore and 

aft?^^ 
**That ship, O king, the staunchest 

craft afloat. 
Designed by Juno, is a heaven-born boat ; 
And warriors, half divine, compose her 

crew. 
The boldest sailors on the ocean blue ; 
The scions of immortal gods are they. 
Whose deeds of valor helped them on their 

way; 
All dangers of the land and sea they Ve 

passed. 
And now at Colchis have arrived at last. 

101 





^^^^^^^P 



<a^ 




Y^&o^S'^ "^ 





From Greece they come, that famous 

far-off land, 
With Jason, son of ^son, in command ; 
He is our kinsman, too, as you may know, 
From Cretheus descended — we also. 
The rightful king of lolchos, you see, 
Thougn Pelias now wears his crown; 

and he 
Has sent brave Jason on this dangerous 

quest, 
To you, your royal highness, to request 
That Phrixus^ Golden Fleece be sent to 

Greece, 
So that fair land may thus obtain release 
From Jove^s great wrath and fury, which is 

due 
To grievous wrong which Athamas did 

do. 
In olden time, to good queen Nephele, 
And to her children, Phrixus and Helle." 

UT! wretched caitiff!'' cried 
the angry king, 
*^What idle tale is this to me 

ye bring? 
These vile marauders, men of 
no renown. 
Are come to take my scepter and my 

crown. 
Think ye these men, rambunctious though 
they be, 

102 




"■TfkflES 



For pelt of Phrixus* ram would brave the 

sea; 
The pelting of the rocks and winds and 

waves 
For several pounds of wool, ye lying 

knaves ! 
If at my board ye had not tasted bread, 
I *d cut your lying tongues from out your 

head!^' 
Then Jason, like a demi-god, arose. 
And e^en the king admired his graceful 

pose; 
His form erect, he mildly bowed his head ; 
Medea hung on every word he said. 

** Most gracious king ^etes, list I pray, 
In justice to a stranger. First, I 'II say. 
That every word your grandson spoke is 

true. 
And should have had some weight, me- 

thinks, with you. 
The Fleece you hold so lightly, I will 

own. 
To me is everything ; in short, my throne 
Depends upon its safe return to Greece, 
Where it will bring prosperity and peace ; 
The pelt you deemed just now of little 

worth. 
To me is the one thing in all the earth 
I most desire ; and if you 'II give it me. 
My choicest treasures, brought beyond the 

sea, 

103 




"4= 




.f="tS.^^^ 





Y^&OT>S^S^"^ 



Shall all be yours ; bright gems and jewels 

rare, 
And cups of gold and silver, chased and 

fair; 
And arms and armor, dye-stuffs, spices, too. 
And many things, I '11 freely give to you. 

R if you have a foeman to sub- 
due, 
Our services we freely offer you ; 
K you have colonies to pacify. 
Or for humanity you wish to try 
For territorial expansion, then 
I freely offer you my god-like men. 
But rest assured of one thing, once for all, 
I Ve vowed to have the Golden Fleece, or 

Now king i^etes was a diplomat ; 
His royal cheek was flushed, and he stood 

pat; 
Concealing well his anger and his spite, 
He said : ** Perhaps your cause is just and 

right; 
Perhaps you are as brave as you pretend ; 
I '11 put you to the test, and in the end. 
If you perform the task I have in view, 
The Golden Fleece I '11 freely give to you. 
The task is one that I can do with ease. 
No other can, not even Hercules. 
I have a pair of bulls, whose pedigree 
Is of the purest strain, as you '11 agree : 

104 



"'^ft^ES 



By VuIcan^s forgc^ and out of molten brass, 
Their food is fire and flame instead of grass. 
These brazen bulls, whose breath is fire and 

flame, 
Your task will be to render kind and tame; 
Put on the yoke, and harness to a plow 
With share of adamant ; which I *II allow 
No one but me can safely do and live. 
But you may try ; my leave I gladly give. 
You next will plough a furrow, straight 

and true, 
Across the field of Mars — as I can do — 
Then sow, not grain, but teeth of serpent 

dread. 
The serpent slain by Cadmus, so ^t is said ; 
And from these teeth your crop will surely 

rise 
The self-same day, perhaps to your sur- 
prise; 
A crop of fierce and warlike men will grow 
From out the furrow, armed from head to 

toe. 
Then single-handed, you these men must 

slay — 
Then with the Golden Fleece you^Il sail 

away.'* 
Thus spoke the king and laughed within 

his sleeve ; 
But Jason said : "^Eetes, by your leave, 
I ^11 try the task to-morrow, though I di^" 
And from the kingly presenee quick did hie. 



105 




<4=: 




E wandered to the gar- 
den, much depressed, 
And in a thick-set grove 

sat down to rest. 
He thought the Golden 
Fleece could ne'er be 
won, 
And sighed to think his 
race so nearly run. 
Medea, when she heard the task pro- 
posed — 
A task impossible, the king supposed — 
Resolved that she would take brave Jason's 

part. 
And aid him with her magic spells and art ; 
For love of Jason she would thwart the 

king— 
O, love is such a strange and curious thing. 
And in that time, so long ago, we're told. 
The old, old story even then was old. 
But though the story may be old, 't would 

seem 
It 's always new and bright as love's young 

dream ; 
And Cupid, after all these many years. 
Is still a roguish boy, all smiles or tears. 
Medea followed Jason to the grove. 
For love had made her bold, and haply 

strove 
Against her maiden modesty ; and so. 
She found poor Jason in the depths of woe. 

100 




"■TfkiES 



** Forgive me, sir/* she said, ** if I, poor 

maid, 

Of all our household seem the least afraid 
To speak of gratitude for your brave deed, 
In giving help in time of direst need 
To Chalciope^s sons, who bid me say 
How much they grieved to hear the king, 

to-day. 
Impose a task so difficult on you ; 
A task which no one but the king can do/' 
** O, fairest maid,*' then Jason did reply, 
** With your kind sympathy, PII gladly die ; 
If so the gods have deemed that it should be. 
Death will be welcome with your sym- 
pathy/' 
** Brave sir, it grieves me much, this 

cruel thing. 
That by my father, JEetes the king. 
Is thus imposed on you who joy did give 
To me and mine ; that those thought dead, 

still live. 

O would that I might perish in your stead ; 

Alas ! 'twould be far better thus/' she said. 

** O, lovely maiden, if within your heart 

You have a thought of me, 't were hard to 

part; 
But if that thought is fraught with love for 

me. 
Then gladly will I die, for I love thee." 
Thus Jason spoke, and took her lovely 

hand; 



107 





c^ 







-^ 



EDEA tried her feelings 

to command. 

Then smiling through 

her tears of joy, she 

said, 

As Jason to a seat the 

fair girl led : 
''Why talk of death, 
when we should strive to live ; 
If you to me your promise fair will give 
To love me always, and be true to me, 
Then I will help in this extremity/* 

** O fairest maid in all the world," he said. 
If I do live, then surely we will wed ; 
You *11 share my throne in Greece, beyond 

the sea ; 
I swear by all the gods to love but thee/* 
** Know then,** she said, ** I have a sub- 
tile charm. 
That can, and will, preserve you from all 

harm; 
With aid that I by magic can invoke. 
The brazen oxen you may safely yoke ; 
Their flaming breath will bring no harm to 



thee; 

And harnessed to the plow, as you will see. 
Straightway across the field of Mars they *11 

And plow a furrow straight, and deep also. 
And when the dreaded serpent's teeth 
you*ve sown, 

108 



'-•■^ft^ES 



^Twill not be long before your crop is 

grown — 
A band of fierce and warlike, well-armed 

men, 
Whom, by my magic you will slay, and 

then — 
Then with the Golden Fleece you'll sail 

away. 
And soon forget Medea and JE.a.J* 

^*When I forget thee, dearest love,** 

said he, 
** May I be swallowed by the ruthless sea ; 
In Pluto's realm may I be doomed to pine. 
And all the tortures of the damned, be mine. 
Should I depart, love, with the Golden 

Fleece, 
I'll carry you, my promised wife, to Greece; 
And there, my wedded wife, you '11 reign 

with mc. 
The proudest, happiest queen in Thessaly. 
I swear by all the gods, this solemn vow : 
To love you always, as I love you now." 
Then Jason sealed the compact with a kiss ; 
Medea's heart was full; unspoken bliss 
More eloquent than words, shone in her 

face. 
As tears and sighs and fears to smiles gave 

place. 
** Dear Jason — for you 're very dear to 

me, 
Medea said, and blushed to speak so free : 

109 




(f^^^^=^^^^^ 



cC^ 




V^G^02)j^~^c 





T dawn tomorrow, meet 
me ^neath the oak/' — 
In whispers, now, the lovely 

maiden spoke : — 
** The oak beside the shrine 
of Hecate, 
There I 'II unfold my plan, for love of thee. 
And now, I must be gone ; and you are free 
Until to-morrow's dawn — but think of mc." 
One long-drawn kiss — then from his side 

she fled. 
Swift, 'neath the fragrant trees, nor turned 
her head. 
Then Jason rose, as from a pleasant 
dream, 
And strode across the plain to Phasis' 

stream. 
Then soon aboard the Argo went in haste; 
The heroes all assembled in her waist ; 
To them he told his story, and his task, 
And many were the questions all did ask. 
Said Idas : " Let us try the force of arms. 
And not depend on magic spells and charms ; 
Talk not to me of fierce fire-breathing bull." 
Said Peleus : ** Brave lason 's got a pull, 
A pull, I think will win, from his report." 
" He '11 surely win with such a friend 
at court, 
Said Atalanta, bravest of her kind; 
** Now mind, my friends, that when a 
woman's mind 



f i-'-^fk^ES 




Has formed a plan, with love as her reward. 
You *II find that plan more mighty than the 

sword/' 
Then Meleager, taking up his cue 
From Atalanta, said, with vigor, too: 
** If Jason wants to play the hayseed act. 
And plow and sow and reap, in point of fact, 
To raise a crop of men ; it comes to pass, 
It's all the same — all flesh we know is 

grass; 
The time will come when all will plow by 

steam, 
So let him drive his fierce fire-breathing 

team; 
And heads of men or grass he'll surely 

clip — 
Whatever man doth sow, that shall he 

rip." 
** I hope," said Pollux, ** none will feel 

afraid 
For Jason's sake, nor be the least dismayed; 
This maid for Jason has her aid proposed. 
And he's proposed to her; the bargain's 

closed ; 
And by this bargain count her of the crew. 
And very glad we'll be to have her, too. 
And then you all remember what was said 
By Phineus, the prophet, on this head : 
That Venus would assist us in the end ; 
Be sure that in our need she '11 prove our 

friend." 

Ill 





Uiiii 



<c^ 



Y^Cfo<:D3<^~^ 





OU're mighty 

boy/^ said Orpheus, 
We'll gladly welcome 

her as one of us ; 
A good musician, too, 

as I 've heard tell ; 
So fair, so wise, so- 
prano, too, as well; 
She '11 take the place of Hylas in the choir, 
Perhaps, in time, she'll learn to play the 
lyre." 
And then a feast was held, and gen'rous 
wine 
Did cheer the hearts of these brave men, 

divine. 
In jeweled cup they pledged bold Jason's 

bride; 
With song and story cast all care aside. 

Next morn, at dawn, Medea, in her car. 
Arrayed resplendent as the morning star. 
Attended by her maidens, secretly. 
Drove quickly to the shrine of Hecate. 
The birds were piping merry roundelays. 
And singing matin hymns of love and 

praise. 
The maidens passed within the temple door. 
And there, with secret rites and prayers, 

implore 
Great Hecate to give Medea power 
To work her charms with magic plant and 
flower. 

112 





i^'msiEs 



And now, Medea, 'heath the old oak 

tree, 
For Jason watched and waited patiently. 
Not long to wait, for soon he came in haste ; 
His arm was soon around her slender waist ; 
And breathing words of love and constancy, 
He kissed away her tears most tenderly. 

** O, Jason list, for time now flies apace,'* 
Medea said, love shining in her face : 
This precious drug — -hide quick beneath 

your cloak." — 
He took it from her hand, e'en as she 

spoke — 
^* 'T is from a two-stalked plant distilled, that 

grew 
Where fell the drops of blood, like morning 

dew; 
Dropped from the eagle's beak that ruthless 

tore 
The liver of Prometheus." And o'er 
Her heart she pressed her hands, and gasped 

for breath. 
For fear that all might end in Jason's 

death. 
Then Jason drew her to his manly 

breast, 
And lovingly her golden locks caressed. 
With cheering words he kissed away her 

woe. 
With arms clasped round his neck she 

whispered low: 

113 






1 early dawn go 

river side^ 
And all alone, bathe in 

its flowing tide ; 
And while the morning 
star doth faintly gleam, 
Then mix the drug with 
water from the stream ; 
And with the magic potion, as with oil. 
Anoint thy body well; it will not soil, 
But fragrant as a flower upon the lea ; 
A match for deathless gods then shalt thou 
be. 
*^And sprinkle well thy sword and shield 
and spear, 
No danger then, dear Jason, need you 

fear; 
And e^en the brazen oxcn^s flaming breath, 
That otherwise would cause your instant 

death, 
Will harmless prove to thee, my love. And 

then 
When from the ground arise the warlike 

men, 
With sword and buckler, spear and javelin ; 
Do thou a great stone cast amidst the din 
Of clashing swords and shields, for then 

will tney 
Each on the other turn, and kill and slay. 
Then mayest thou with thy charmed spear 
and sword 

114 



f ^'%%K3 



Let out the brief lives of the earth-bom 

horde. 
This done, thy task is ended. Now good- 
bye, 
Thy life is spared, though even I may die. 
To-morrow, then, thou *It bear a charmed 

life; 
And after, should we live, thy promised 

wife, 
m go with thee to sunny, far-off Greece, 
And there I hope to merit love and peace.** 
** My own sweet love,** said Jason, ** we 

will pray 
The gods may soon vouchsafe the happy 

day.** 
A loving, fond embrace, and heart to heart, 
A honied kiss — and then the lovers part. 

Behold next day upon the field of Mars, 
The king and courtiers in their warlike cars. 
The household of the king in gilded wain. 
Drove through the gate, and out upon the 

plain. 
And then Medea, fairest sight by far. 
Attended by her maidens in her car. 
A throng of soldiers to the field repair. 
With banners gay, and brazen trumpet*s 

blare. 
And warriors, priests and thralls, with one 

accord. 
Moved out upon the plain, a mighty horde. 
To witness Jason*s sure defeat and death. 



115 




<4= 




r"^^-^^ 



^r^ 




Y^&o^S^ - 




By these dread brazen bulls with flaming 
breath. 

ND now the grandest 

sight of all appears — 

The Argo, sailing 

proudly, while the 

cheers 

Of Jason and his heroes 

rent the air ; 
They came to conquer, 
came to do or dare, 
mighty ship sailed swiftly up the 
stream, 
The morning breeze blew fresh, abaft the 

beam; 
And fifty oars in perfect time were plied. 
Like fifty giant arms along her side. 
Ancaeus, putting down the helm, she veered 
Into the wind ; then for the shore he steered. 
The sail was lowered and furled upon the 

yard. 
The oarsmen still were rowing fast and 

hard, 
Until at length the river bank they reach. 
And backing ship, they stopped beside the 

beach. 
And safely moored the Argo in the lee, 
The proudest ship that ever sailed the sea. 
The heroes leaped ashore with perfect ease, 
And formed in .solid phalanx 'neath the 



trees ; 



116 



» •^'^WlES 



Then boldly marched, with Jason at their 

head, 
The very earth did tremble at their tread* 
Then marching to the chariot of the 

king, 
Gave three Greek cheers that made the 

welkin ring; 
The welkin rang, and rang again, Fve 

heard. 
But badly cracked remained from cheer the 

third. 
The Colchian welkin ne^er will ring again, 
'T was sorely damaged by these loud-voiced 

men. 
**i^etes, let me introduce my friends,^' 
Said Jason, anxious then to make amends ; 
They, doffing helmets, gave their college 

yell, 

Old Chiron^s college yell, and did it well ; 
So well, in fact, that birds for miles around. 
With bursted galls, dropped dead upon the 

ground. 
The king, astonished, rose up in his car. 
The yell reverberating, near and far. 

** I ^m pleased to meet you, gentlemen,*^ 

said he, 
** But don^t repeat that yell ; it don^t agree 
With thin-skinned people, like we Colchians 

are; 
Your fine Greek chorus is too loud, by 

far. 



117 




^^^^^^S 



<c>> 





OW, Jason, if your will 

is still inclined 
To yoke the brazen 

oxen, you will find 
That everything is ready 
for the test ; 
That you decline, I really think is best ; 
For I, and I alone, the task can do. 
Be warned in time; it's certain death for 
you/' 
Then Idas quickly spoke : ** O, gracious 
king. 
We wouldn't miss the show for anything; 
'T would be too bad to disappoint the crowd. 
And Tason, he will do your oxen proud ; 
For ne's a bully boy, I'd have you know, 
Your brazen bulls with him will prove too 
slow." 
Then Pollux spoke, the famous pugilist, 
And to his helmet raised his brawny fist : 
'^Should Jason smash your bulls, most 

gracious sire. 
And by his mettle, quench their metal ire, 
We '11 all chip in and buy another pair. 
Or send them straight to Vulcan for repair ; 
The straight, you know, will both pair 

surely beat. 
Or Jason, flushed with pride in their defeat. 
Will order three, from brazen kine, you 

see — 
Three of a kind, then surely there will be." 

118 



'-'■^ftSES 



B 



^'You speak in Grecian idioms/' said 

the king, 
'^A Grecian idiom is a stupid thing. 
But talk is cheap ; to business now we 'II 

turn. 
That Pm a business man, you soon will 

learn ; 
This is my busy day ; it 's getting late. 
And time and tide, you know, for no man 

wait. 
As Jason still insists the bulls to yoke. 
Perhaps he 'II find, too late, it is no joke. 
You Greeks may nod and laugh and smile 

and wink; 
That he will yoke the oxen — I don't think. 
But should he do so, and perform the task — 
Then everything is his that he may ask ; 
The Fleece of Qjld, a paltry thing, at best. 
My crown and scepter, throne, and all the 

rest; 
When Greece her knees a suppliant bent, 

you know; 
A suppliant bent — then grease her knees, 

just so; 
A Colchian school-boy chestnut, I'll admit. 
But one that this occasion seems to fit. 

** Here, Jason, hold your helmet, take 
these teeth. 
The seed you are to sow upon this heath; 
And when the seed 's into the furrow sown, 

119 





i~\- 





Not long you ^11 have to wait before it's 

grown ; 
A crop of fierce and well-armed men, and 

brave^ 
Whom you must reap and bind, your life 

to save; 
Remember, he who by the plow would 

thrive. 
Must either hold the plow, himself, or drive ; 
As you '11 do both, why you can plainly see. 
The thing 's impossible — except for me." 

ROT out your bulls,'' said Jason, 
let's begin, 
A thing begun 's half done ; I 'm 
sure to win. 
Your bulls are muzzle-loaders — obsolete ; 
I '11 draw their fire ; 't is quite an easy feat. 
I 'm made of pure asbestos, and fire-proof ; 
A perfect salamander — web and woof. 
The warmest member in the crowd ; that 's 

right; 
There '11 be a hot time in the town, to-night." 

ERHAPS my bulls are not so 
very hot ; 
You'll find them sizzling, in 
the corner lot ; 
Also the adamantine plow and yoke." 
The king laughed in his sleeve, while yet 
he spoke. 

120 




^•-TftdlM 



Then Jason thrust his sword into the sod, 
And on it hung his helmet, like a hod. 
Wherein reposed the serpent^s teeth for seed, 
And for the brazen oxen went with speed. 
And as he passed Medea, lovely maid, 
She whispered : ** Jason, do not be afraid/* 
The women all admired his yellow hair; 
They M never seen a mortal half so fair; 
They threw him kisses as he disappeared. 
And prayed for his success; half hoped, 

half feared. 
But what is this that caused the king to 

look! 
While all his frame as with an ague shook ! 
*T is Jason with the oxen and the plow. 
As to the yoke their brazen heads they bow ; 
While from their mouths and nostrils sheets 

of flame 
Extended far behind ; but all the same. 
And unconcerned, brave Jason plodded on. 
His team obedient to his voice, anon. 
And pulling bravely, with their might and 

main. 
They plowed a furrow straight across the 

plain. 
'*Gee, Bright! Whoa, Buck!*' cried 

Jason, as with gad. 
He whacked their sides. The women folks 

were glad. 
" Hurrah for Jason ! ** cried the heroes then. 
And such a shout will ne'er be heard again. 

121 




^^^^^^ 





HEN: '^What^s the 
matter with brave 
Jason, now? 
Cried Meleager, as he 
watched the plow. 
''O! he^s all right!'' 
responded all the 
crew 

The king looked wild — 'twas all that he 
could do. 
Then Jason, running nimbly 'cross the 
sward, 
Took up his helmet ; buckled on his sword. 
Then in the furrow sowed the serpent's teeth, 
And with the plow he turned them under- 
neath; 
And in the comer lot at length did stop. 
Turned out his team ; returned to reap his 

crop. 
Already in the furrow, bursting through. 
Brass helmets, pushing up like mushrooms, 

grew; 
Soon followed arms and bodies, legs, and 

then. 
Behold the band of fierce and warlike men ! 
Well-armed with sword and javelin and 

spear. 
They clashed their shields, and showed no 
sign of fear. 
Then Jason, shouting loudly, waved his 
sword ; 

122 



^^^^hHES 



With flashing eyes they rushed, with one 
accord, 

To slay the bold intruder ; but they found 

He parried all their blows, and stood his 
ground. 

Then Jason catching up a heavy stone, 

With all his strength the missile then was 
thrown, 

And struck to earth two warriors in the 
crowd. 

Who on each other turned with curses loud ; 

And striking right and left, were soon en- 
gaged 

With all the others — so the battle waged. 

And Jason, slashing with his magic sword. 

Soon all had bit the dust, of this vile horde. 
While shouts and cries of victory re- 
sound. 

His comrades lifted Jason from the ground. 

And on their shoulders bore him to the 
king. 

And cried: '*Lo, here the conqueror, we 
bring! 

And since he has performed his wondrous 
task, 

The Golden Fleece, alone, is all we ask. 

Although you deemed it but a paltry thing. 

We prize it as the ransom of a king. 

You promised him your crown, ana scepter, 
too. 

But these, i^^tes, we will leave with you.' 



123 




•^^ 




^^^^^p 




~Y^&OT)S<^ 




HE king, with rage, could 
scarce contain himself ; 
Of all his choicest treas- 
ures, goods and pcif, 
The Golden Fleece he 
prized the most of all ; 
Some plan he must invent, some way fore- 
stall 
These loud-mouthed Greeks; he cared not 

for his word ; 
That he should keep his promise seemed 
absurd. 
**I do not understand this thing,^* he 
said; 
His face turned pale, and then again turned 

red. 
** I Vc been hoodooed and buncoM, that is 

plain ; 
My bulls were hypnotized ; the earth-born 

slain; 
But each one slew the other, which was 

hard; 
Each man was hoisted by his own petard. 
But since by some vile trick the task is 

done. 
And Jason thinks the Golden Fleece hc^s 

won; 
I 'm willing, now, the claim to arbitrate, 
As is the custom in affairs of state. 
I'll choose two men, and they may choose 
a third, 

124 



r UTftSES 



To them the matter then will be referred. 
As ex-offido I ^11 add my name ; 
We ^11 thoroughly investigate the claim. 
We ^U send for men and papers — that ^s the 

way; 
And then, when through, report without 

delay. 
But first, a protocol will be prepared, 
Wherein my final terms will be declared. 
To this state paper each his name must 

sign. 
The names of all concerned — excepting 

mine. 
Now, one thing more I M have you un- 
derstand : 
The Golden Fleece will never leave this 

land. 
A mascot true, it is my greatest pride, 
Which Phrixus willed to me before he 

died; 
Dyed in the wool with precious virgin gold, 
A sacred, priceless thing, to have and hold. 
My title 's good ; there ^s not the slightest 

flaw; 
Possession is nine points in Colchian law. 
Therefore, possess yourselves in perfect 

peace. 
You never will possess the Golden Fleece.** 
And saying which he quickly drove 

away. 
The Argonauts had not a word to say. 



125 




<4== 




f^^^^^^ 



r-^G^02)^^~^ 





HEN came Medea, with 
a faithful maid ; 
She beckoned Jason to 

her side, and said : 
** My father's shameful 
words I blushed to 
hear; 
But we'll outwit him, 
Jason, never fear. 
At midnight do not fail to come to me, 
Where last we met — the shrine of Hecate. 
Then with my help you '11 take the Golden 

Fleece, 
And then set sail, at once, for far-off Greece. 
Have everything prepared for instant flight ; 
For I leave home, with you, this very night. 
Already I 'm suspected by the king. 
For helping you, to-day, to do this thing. 
And should you then the Fleece take from 

its tree, 
A shameful, certain death, 'twould mean 

for me. 
Should I remain 
fled." 
** My faithful, promised wife," then Jason 



behind when you were 



said. 



** I will not sail without you, never fear ; 
You are to me most precious, fond and dear. 
My love for you will only cease with life, 
And some day you will be my cherished 
wife." 



126 



'^•■^fUlES 



She pressed his hand, then said : ** Do 

not forget; 
Good-bye ! to-night — alone — where last we 

met/' 
Then in her car the crowd she soon outran. 
And Jason to the heroes told the plan. 
Aboard the ship they sang a merry 

tune. 
Right glad they were to leave the place so 

soon. 
Though Idas said he did not think it right, 
To sneak away without a chance to fight. 
To have his way, he said he'd sack the 

town, 
Then take the Golden Fleece, and smash 

-Petes' crown. 
But better, wiser, counsel still prevailed. 
And down the stream the Argo swiftly 

sailed. 
Again they moored her in the sheltered 

bight. 
And then prepared all things for instant 

flight. 




BOOH 
III 



127 





<^^^^ 



ARGUMENT. 

JEctzz discovers all; but meantime Medea has fled 
to the Argonauts ; and by her aid they have taken the 
Fleece and gone. Absyrtus^ son of iEetes, gives chase ; 
but coming up with them is treacherously slain, at the 
mouth of the Ister, by Jason and Medea ; whereat Zeus 
is angry, but Hera ever befriends them. Thence they 
come to Circe to be purified of the murder ; and they pass 
through **the Wandering Rocks/' and through Scylla 
and Charybdis, and past the Sirens, all save Butes ; and 
come unto Corcyra, where Medea is saved by Alcinous 
from the pursuit of the Colchians, and is wedded to 
Jason. Next they are driven to the Syrtis off Libya, and 
suffer greatly from thirst. Here Canthus and Mopsus 
meet their doom ; and the rest are saved by Triton and 
sent upon their way to Crete, where Talos withstands 
them, only to fall before Medea's magic. 

After this they make a straight run to -^gina, and 
so without further adventure to their home in Thessaly. — 
(Adapted from the Scholiasts.) 

>29 



w^ 



OK^Ip'. 



fi 



T midnight, at th* ap- 
pointed time and place, 
Medea waited ; tears 
ran down her face. 
The thought of leaving home 

was sad, indeed ; 
*Twixt love and duty, sore 
her heart did bleed. 
*'0! would that Jason ne^er had come,^* 

she said ; 
**0! would that I, unhappy maid, were 

dead!^' 
But Jason coming, kissed away her tears ; 
With soothing words soon banished all her 
fears. 
** O ! Tason, I am leaving all for you ; 
My childnood^s home ; my faithful maids, 

and true; 
My father, mother, brother, sister dear ; 
My native land — and all for love sincere. 
For love of you, dear Jason, all I leave. 
For in your love I trust ; in you believe. 
Henceforth my all — my very life you *1I be ; 
And will you love me always — only me ? 
** Sweet love,^^ said Jason, ** by the gods 
I swear, 
No one with you my true hearths love will 

share; 
This day, my sweet, you saved my worth- 
less life; 



131 




<c^ 




^mR^^3^^= jiy I 




Henceforth it *s yours — my faithful, prom- 
ised wife/' 

HEN Jason brushed aside 
her golden hair, 
And sealed his vow upon 

her forehead fair. 
Around his neck her white 
arms then she flung, 
And to his tall and graceful form she clung, 
E^en like a vine that clingeth to a rock. 
Though countless storms may rage and 

tempests shock. 
She laid her tear-stained cheek upon his 

breast. 
And gently, he her golden locks caressed ; 
When starting up, as if from sleep, she 
gasped ; 
** Time flies apace 1 ** and then his hand 
she clasped. 
And gliding swiftly ^neath the silent stars. 
She led him to the sacred grove of Mars ; 
And there the wondrous sight did he behold, 
The goal of all his hopes — the Fleece of 

Gold! 
Its dazzling light resplendent shone around ; 
But underneath there lay upon the ground, 
The dreadful dragon, coiled about the tree 
Where hung the Golden Fleece ; its guar- 
dian, he. 
His countless folds were clad with shield- 
like scales ; 

132 




^-%*fe 



^'■^fkflES 



And sicklc-Iike, and sharp, his long, curved 

nails* 
His red and slimy mouth was opened wide, 
With rows of teeth like spear-heads, side by- 
side; 
While from his yellow nostrils, snoring 

loud. 
His sickly, noisome breath arose, a cloud. 

** Haste, Jason, do not be the least afraid ! 
Quick 1 seize the Golden Fleece 1 ** Medea 

said. 
** The dreadful beast, who never slept before, 
I charmed to sleep an hour ago, or more. 
The magic potion soon will lose its spell ; 
Quick ! seize the Fleece, and all will yet be 

well!^' 
She placed her sandaled foot upon its head. 
And crooning softly to the dragon, said : 
** Sleep on, O dreaded, fearful beast, 

sleep on ; 
May dreams, in fancy, bring thee pleasures 

gone; 
Sleep on, O monster, while the owl doth fly ; 
While kind moon-goddess Hecate is nigh.^^ 
And o^er the dragon^s eye-lids then she 

poured 
The soporific drug — he louder snored. 
Then Jason lightly stepped from fold to fold. 
And from the tree he took the Fleece of Gold. 
As in his arms he bore the long-sought prize, 
The monster dragon opened wide his eyes. 



133 




<^^^^^^^ 



<c^ 



V^G^02)j^~^ 





And from his throat emitted such a roar, 
The earth did quake for miles, from shore 
to shore. 

EDE A threw her mantle 

o'er its head, 
Then swiftly from the 
place, with Jason, fled. 
The shining Fleece lit 
up their path like day, 
As through the grove 
they quickly made 
their way. 
And thence across the plain unto the ship ; 
Then quick aboard — the crew the cables 



slip. 

And down the river soon were rowing fast. 
Till near the river's mouth they stopped, at 

last. 
Then Jason, standing on the vessel's stem. 
Addressed the heroes, who, their faces turn 
To where he stood, Medea by his side. 
The fairest maid in all the world, so wide. 
^*0, brothers, many dangers we have 

shared ; 
Our lives from many perils hath been 

spared ; 
Until, at last, the object of our quest 
Hath been secured ; and I am doubly blest. 
This is the happiest moment of my life, 
For you Ve obtained the Fleece, and I a wife. 
To guard her safely, now will be your care, 

134 



f ^'^fkms 




For 



she as queen, my throne will 



some d< 

share. 

And bear me witness ; by the gods I vow ! 
To love her always, as I love her now. 
Without her aid the Golden Fleece would be. 
Still guarded by the dragon *neath the tree.^* 
Thus Jason spoke. Then Peleus replied : 
** O, Jason, with our lives we *II guard your 

bride.^^ 
And then Medea, stretching out her 

hand, 
Cried: ** Heroes! look! O look upon the 

land! 
The beacon fires are lit on every hill; 
Hoist up your sail, and quickly let it fill. 
The warning bell is clanging in the tower ; 
Bend to your oars, and pray the gods for 




power 



My father is alarmed ; he knows I Ve fled ! 
And ta^en the Golden Fleece 1 ** Medea said. 
And as she spoke, behold upon the 

strand. 
The chariot of the king ; and in his hand 
A flaming torch, that like a meteor flew ; 
And urging on his horses passed from 

view 
Around the point below; and followed then, 
A multitude of horses, cars and men. 
While up the river, sailors loudly cried ; 
Manned sails and oars, to catch the ebbing 

tide. 

135 



SS few ^^^^^^^ 






And as the early dawn began to break, 
A hundred ships soon followed Argons wake. 

ITH sail and oars the Argo 
swiftly sped ; 
But at the river's mouth, 

not far ahead, 
A huge ship blocked the 
channel ; while on shore, 
An army of a thousand men, or more. 
Were waiting for the Argo and her crew. 
Then Jason gave his orders, quickly, too : 
'^ Along the gunwale of the landward 
side. 
Let all the shields of first bench men be tied ! 
And brace them strong and firm ; then on 

his spear 
Let each man's helmet just above, appear ! 
While down below the men their oars will 

ply! 
Then those on shore will shoot their arrows, 

high. 
All, save the oarsmen, man the starboard 

side. 
To fight the ship that bars our way I '' he 
cried. 
Then Juno sent, abaft, a welcome gale. 
That fiercely blew, and filled the swelling 

sail. 
But up the river, blew the other way ; 
Drove back the Colchian fleet in dire dismay. 

136 




l-'-^fkflES 



The Argo forged ahead with wind and tide, 
The queen of all the seas, and Jason^s pride. 
Then bearing down upon the ship, ahead, 
Bold Jason turned to Ancaeus, and said : 
" That ship we *I1 sink ! there is no other 

way; 
She blocks the channel *twixt the sea and 

bay; 
*T is Hobson^s choice ; we *1I ram her in the 

side! 
And sink her where she lays, whatever 

betide. 

We Ve got the push ! our stem is solid oak ! 
We ^11 crush her like an egg-shell ! " thus he 

spoke. 
Ancaeus bid them row both fast and 

hard; 
And to the breeze to brace and square the 

yard. 
The Colchian ship was anchored bow and 

stern ; 
The Argo from her straight course did not 

turn; 
But crashing, smashing, cut the ship in 

twain; 
Sailed o^er the wreck, and out upon the 

main. 
The Colchian ship was fairly cut in two, 
And sank like lead, beneath the waters blue. 
But ere she sunk, Absyrtus, on the stern. 
With angry eyes, Medea did discern. 

137 




(t^^""^"^^^^^^^ 





ILE sister I false one ! 
traitress!^^ then he said ; 
Medea answered not — 
she cut him dead* 
I know some ancient 
poets do aver — 
In justice^ though, with 
them I can't concur — 
That Jason, or Medea, maybe both, 
Did really slay Absyrtus, nothing loth. 
Now when the Colchian ship did dis- 
appear. 
The Argo's crew did loudly shout and cheer. 
** How's that ! " cried Castor, shouting with 

his might ; 
Cried Pollux, just as loud: **It's out of 
sight ! 
Then king i^ctes, in his car, on shore. 
Did tear his hair, and bitter oaths he swore ; 
But all in vain; the Argo sailed away, 
And soon was lost to sight, far down the 

bay. 
The best laid plans of mice or men, you see, 
On sea or solid land, oft gang agley. 

The breeze blew fresh and fair; they 
sailed all night ; 
They swiftly sailed until the morning light 
Broke thick and gray, and then a heavy log 
Fell like a pall ; they drifted like a log. 
For now a calm fell on the silent sea, 
And three long days they drifted, helplessly. 

138 



^I^ftsHES 



The heavy mist the mast-head hid from 

view; 
They lost their course ; they knew not what 

to do. 
At length, at dawn, a lambient, rosy 

light 
Shone all about the prow, a welcome sight ; 
And from the figure-head was heard a voice 
That caused their hearts, despondent, to 

rejoice : 
*' Brave heroes, rouse ye from despair 

and doubt! 
Your ship is safe and sound; your arms 

are stout. 
Your journey home will be some time de- 
layed; 
Accept whatever comes — be not afraid. 
The fog, and mist, and gloom, by Juno 

sent. 
Hath saved your lives, and proved her good 

intent. 
While shrouded by the mist and fog, so 

meet. 
The angry king and all the G)Ichian fleet 
PassM haply by, and at the straits doth 

wait, 
To bar your passage through the narrow 

gate. 
And now another route you must pursue ; 
For rivers, you must leave the ocean blue ; 
And overland awhile, your journey take ; 

139 




<4== 




.^^^P 



'Y^&o^S^^ ~^ 





HEN in the sea^ again 
leave your waTce, 
Until, at last, you'll sight 

the shores of Greece, 
And all will end in perfect 
joy and peace. 
But, now, due north your present course 

will be. 
Instead of east ; be brave and follow me ! ** 
Then rose a breeze from off the southern 
shore. 
Dispersed the fog; and doubted they no 

more. 
Carambis left aport, and far astern, 
Ahead the steady, radiant light did bum ; 
They followed, day and night, the rosy 

gleam. 
Until they entered Ister's mighty stream. 
They entered on the flood tide, high and 

strong. 
And swiftly 'tween the banks were whirled 

along. 
At length, at night, they anchored in the 

stream. 
And strange, indeed, did everything now 

seem. 
No more was felt the salt breeze of the sea ; 
No more was heard the purl of waves, a-lee. 
But swift and silent flowed the mighty tide ; 
While forests hemmed them in on either 



side. 



140 



V ^'■^fMlES 



And farther up the stream they rowed 

each day^ 
Until the salty tide had lost its sway, 
And fresh and sweet the river water ran. 
Good fishing now they found, and soon 

began 
To lure the finny tribe from Ister's flood, 
By hook or crook, or any way they could ; 
With bait or spoon, or artificial fly, 
To catch the biggest fish they all did try. 
Medea watched the sport with some sur- 
prise; 
The gentle art was new to Colchian eyes. 
With Jason^s aid she soon essayed a cast. 
And hooked a fish as long as half the 

mast. 
She played it with great skill, it must be 

said; 
She played it 'till the fish seemed nearly 

dead; 
Then Jason deftly gaffed it with his spear. 
And all the crew joined in a hearty cheer. 
'Twas ever thus, in fishing bout or 

match. 
The novice sometimes scores the biggest 

catch. 
Whatever the sport, in feather, fur or fin. 
The modest tenderfoot will sometimes win. 
We call it ** luck,^' whatever that may mean, 
But luck or ** chance'' is born of skill, I 

ween. 





141 



<c^ 



Y^G'o^S^^'^ 





O in and try your luck/* 
or ** Now *z your 
chance/* 
Is often said, our cour- 
age to enhance. 
And if we win, can it 

be truly said 
That luck or chance, 
not skill, came out ahead? 
The expert angler's often asked, for- 
sooth: 
** What luck ? " when patient, skillful work, 

in truth. 
Hath filled his creel, in which chance had 

no part ; 
*T is such things break the honest angler's 

heart. 
Or quoth the upstart, finger on his nose : 
** You caught them on the fly, sir, I sup- 
pose r *' 
** Of course,'* the honest angler then replies. 
** The barnyard hackle is the best of flies ; 
And that you used, sir, just as like as 

not**— 
He feels like killing him upon the spot. 

Medea caught the largest fish that day. 
As woman sometimes will when there *s a 

way. 
She bore her honors meekly — did not 

brag— 
The gentle doe at times outstrips the stag. 

142 



iJ^^tSzs 



Now steadily up stream the Argo sped ; 
Propelled by lusty arms, she forged ahead. 
But swifter, clearer, now the river flowed ; 
And harder still the god-like oarsmen 

rowed. 
At night was often heard the lion's roar ; 
By day strange beasts were seen along the 

shore; 
To these they gave no heed, nor thought of 

harm; 
Such sights and sounds to them caused no 

alarm. 
But now their hearts were filled with fear 

and dread — 
A mighty cataract was seen ahead. 
And foam-flecked water; eddies every- 
where, 
Caused every heart to sink in grim despair. 
And then discouraged by the fearsome 

sight. 
They anchored in a quiet, sheltered bight. 
Then Jason and Ancaeus went ashore, 
With Argus, Lynceus, and several more. 
Together then they climbed the wooded 

hiU, 
And up the river's bank they journeyed 

still. 
Until they reached, at length, the high 

divide. 
And saw a river on the other side. 
A welcome sight ; it flowed the other way ; 



143 




if''''^^^^^:^^ 



cs= 




Y^G'OT)S'^"'~ 




^T will bear us to the sea, again 
say. 



^^ETURNING then the joy- 
ous news to tell, 
They found a wide and well- 
worn road, as well. 
**The task is not a hard 
one,** Argus said ; 
On wheels we *1I move the Argo to the head 
Of this divide ; and then when that is done, 
*T will be dead easy, and no end of fun, 
To wheel the Argo down the other side, 
And in the other river safely glide.'* 
** You *re mighty right,** then Jason, smiling, 
said, 
I always thought you*d wheels in that 
great head.** 
And now for days a busy scene ensued. 
Great trees, and small, were felled and sawed 

and hewed. 
A timber cradle for the Argo made, 
With wheels and axles strongly built and 

stayed. 
Then in the water, down the sloping beach. 
They ran the car, until the ship they reach. 
And safely floated her within the cage ; 
Then with the twisted cables all engage, 
And hauled the Argo out upon the shore ; 
Despair and doubt then troubled them no 



more. 



144 




L'-^fMi^s 



Then up the hill they labored, slow but 

sure; 
No task so great but they could well endure. 
And so they reached the top — the water- 
shed; 
** We '11 rest until to-morrow/' Jason said. 
At early dawn they started down the slope ; 
Each heart was now inspired with joy and 

hope. 
At length they safely reached the river side ; 
At length they launched the Argo on its tide. 
Then with the wheels and timbers of the 

wain 
The heroes built an altar, once again, 
To offer sacrifice and hymns of praise 
To Juno, who had brought them through 

the maze 
Of deep and dark despair to this bright 

spot — 
That she had guided them, they doubted 

not. 
The hunters hied them forth with spear 

and bow, 
And through the forest wandered to and fro; 
Brave Areas, Atalanta, Idas, too, 
And Meleager, searched the forest through. 
At length, a lordly stag Atlanta spied ; 
She drove an arrow through his tawny 

hide; 
It pierced his heart, of course, she could not 

fail— 

145 







A hart he was, from branching horns to 

tail. 
He dropped dead in his tracks, for so, also, 
His tracks were always under him, you 

know. 

ND then a bull, both tall and 
big of girth. 
With lowered horns, began 

to paw the earth ; 
His glaring eye the hunters 
did defy ; 

But Idas shot an arrow through his eye. 
'* I hit the bullseye, plump and fair,^^ he said ; 
^'It pierced the bovine brain — the bull is 

dead; 
The boss of all the herd, no doubt was he ; 
The bull of all the woods is slain, by me ! '^ 
A huge boar next came rushing through 
the wood ; 
Erect upon his back his bristles stood. 
His foam-flecked tusks he bared with piggish 

pride; 
But Areas* spear went crashing through his 

side. 
'' That 's not so bad 1 '' quoth Areas to the 

rest; 
** I bore his taunt as long as I thought best. 
The greatest boar of earth, as you '11 agree. 
With neatness and dispatch was slain by 



me 



146 



LIT^TLE 



riSHES 




UST then an eagle bold dropped 

from the sky, 

And Meleager let an arrow fly, 

That cleft the great bird^s skull, 

and down he felL 

Then Meleager^s heart with pride did swell; 

And then he said: ** Now, how is that for 

high?'' 
I shot him on the wing — good shot say I/' 
Then Atalanta, smiling, sweetly said : 
** It seems to me you shot him on the head ! '* 

HUS chaffing, boasting, in a 
merry vein. 
The hunters to the ship returned 
again. 

The bull for sacrifice was then prepared. 
To thank the gods their lives had all been 

spared ; 
To Juno, faithful guardian, all did pray. 
To shield and guard them on their home- 
ward way. 
The altar flames leaped high above the trees. 
The smoke ascended on the evening breeze ; 
The omen was propitious, thank the gods — 
So long as they were happy — what 's the 
odds. 
So down Eridanus, the river, sailed 
The good ship Argo, which had never failed 
To serve the heroes well, by sea or land ; 
A gallant ship ; a noble, gallant band. 

147 





<c^ 



OW as they reached the 

river^s mouth, one day. 
The water boiled and 

bubbled, strange to say ; 
And clouds of steam rose 

hissing on the air, 
And altogether seemed 

a queer affair. 
This is the place," Medea said, ** where 





Young Phaethon ; I Ve heard my father tell 
How he one day the sun-car drove ; alas I 
That such a thing should ever come to 



The horses ran away — came near the earth, 
And set the world on fire — his life was worth 
Far less than all the world ; so mighty Jove, 
While seated on his throne, in heaven above, 
Sent crashing through the air a fiery dart 
That fired young Phaethon from out the 

cart, 
And sent him scorching in the sea below — 
That ^s why the water boils and bubbles so. 
He 's burning still ; of that there is no doubt. 
For he can never, never, be put out.'^ 
Next day they reached the river^s mouth, 
and then. 
Behold the glorious, open sea, again ! 
A welcome sight, indeed, to all the crew, 
As bending to the breeze, the Argo flew. 
The island of ./Ethalia reached, at last, 

148 



^'■^fhfiES 



moored the Argo safely, firm and 





here the heroes spent in port ; 
' the time in manly games and 



While Jason and Medea walked one day, 
oddess Iris met them on their way. 
lid them they to Greeks isle must hie, 
;he their blood-stained hands would 



Absyrtus' death was still laid at their door, 
So they for Circe^s favor must implore. 
Next morning early saw them on their 

way; 
The Argo bounding gayly o^er the bay. 
The high Tyrsenian cliffs were in full view, 
Their amethystine tints above the blue. 
And sailing onward through the starlit 

night, 
Next day the isle of Circe hove in sight. 
Anon, they anchored near the little isle ; 
The crew with music did the time beguile. 
While Jason and Medea stepped ashore, 
With more of dread than they had felt 

before. 
For Circe was ^etes* sister, dear ; 
No wonder that their hearts were filled with 

fear. 
Yet true, she was Medea^s favorite aunt ; 
They hoped that she their prayers would 

freely grant. 



149 




(^^^^^^^ 





she placed with 



OW Circe was a sorce- 
ress, half divine, 
Who, by a touch, turned 

all men into swine. 
Medea, knowing this, 

had come prepared; 

A knowledge of the 

magic art she shared 

With Circe, who had taught her years ago. 

The art divine, and things she ought to 

know. 
In Jason^s tunic 

care, 
Some withered leaves, and safely pinned 
them there. 
^^The Pontic Moly, sure and sacred 
charm ; 
Whoever wears it ne*er will come to harm ; 
A foil to sorcery and magic art,^' 
She said, **Now keep it safely o^er your 

heart. 
So long as you possess the sacred twig. 
By Circe, you can not be made a pig.^* 
And as they walked they saw great 
droves of swine 
That once were men; and oft did they 

repine 
In grunts and squeals their low and abject 

state ; 
And some, no doubt, deserved a better fate. 
Then as they neared the center of the isle, 

150 



^ U'^ft&E.S 



The 



met them with a pleasant 



sore ress 

smile; 

She bade them welcome to her palace hall. 
Where Jason and Medea told her all: 
About the Golden Fleece, and Jason^s quest ; 
About the brazen bulls, and all the rest ; 
How king -^etes did repudiate 
His royal word and promise, made in state; 
Then, how the Golden Fleece they took at 

night; 
And then appealed to Circe*s sense of right. 
''But how about Absyrtus' death?'' 

asked she, 
"For this youVe come to be absolved by 

me. 
**" My dear aunt Circe/' then Medea said, 
** We do not know if he is already dead. 
A ship was in our way as we passed out; 
We rammed and sunk this ship without a 

doubt ; 
My brother stood upon her quarter-deck, 
And called me names, from his part of the 

wreck. 
Now, whether he was drowned, or swam 

ashore. 
We do not know, and cannot tell you more." 
Now Circe thought it best, at all events, 
. To purify them both, in every sense, 
Of any guilt that might attach to them ; 
'T would do no harm; 'twould clear their 

skirts; ahem! 



151 







Within her secret chamber they 

drew, 
And there she purified the happy two. 
This course was necessary to appease 
The wrath of Jove, incensed by -^etes. 

HEN Circe showed them 

around th' enchanted place ; 

The beastly swine, once of 

the human race, 
That by their squeals and 
grunts did her implore, 
To change them back to human form, once 

more. 
Then Circe said : ** Observe those two black 

swine 
That hang their heads ; unceasingly they 

whine. 
The one a fish-hog is, and when a man 
He fished for count, and always filled his 

can 
With big and little, fingerlings, as well ; 
Then, boasting of his catch, great lies did 
teU. 
The other one's a game-hog, nasty 
brute. 
Who, all day long, did nothing else but 

shoot ; 
With bow and spear he roamed the forests 

wide. 
And potted every living thing he spied. 

152 




'-''^TMiEs 



Now there *s a spotted hog, both lank and 

lean, 
Who, as a man, was just as bad and mean. 
With net and spear, and torch, he fished at 

night. 
And slept by day, for fear Diana might 
Surprise him at his lawless, so-called sport, 
And hale him off to answer at the court. 
And see that hog with drooping ears 

and tail ; 
At games and public places he M ne'er fail 
To occupy two scats, while ladies stood; 
I Ve turned him to a pig for others* good. 
That scrawny hog, that's biting at his back. 
Who, as a man did never false tales lack. 
Did scandalize his friends and neighbors ; so, 
I changed him to a pig some months ago. 
That flabby one, that wallows in the 

mire, 
A boodle politician, thief and liar. 
And so the herd have all, for some good 

cause. 
Been changed from men to hogs by Na- 
ture's laws. 
The change was slight, for they were hogs 

before; 
On two legs walked, where now they walk 

on four ; 
The difference then, I think you'll surely 

find. 
Is only in degree, and not in kind." 

153 




C.,4S, 



y-EG'02)J^'^2^ 






Medea said, 
** Be sure and come to sec 

us when we 're wed. 
And now we must be 
going, Jason dear/' 
** I 'II come to see you, cnildren, never fear/' 
Responded Circe, ** and I 'II come right soon ; 
I hope you 'II have a happy honey-moon." 
Then Jason and Medea made their way 
Across the isle to where the Argo lay. 
They sailed at once, by Jason's strict com- 
mand. 
At dawn they reached the fair Tyrscnian 

strand ; 
And there they beached the Argo for a day, 
In troublous doubt as to their future way. 

Now Peleus was strolling on the beach. 
Communing with himself in silent speech; 
When Thetis, lovely sea-nymph, came 

ashore — 
His wife, who 'd left him many years be- 
fore — 
He clasped her to his breast with tears of 

joy, 
And cried : ** O, Thetis, how 's our darling 

boy!" 
** Achilles is all right," his wife replied, 
**He's with old Qiiron on the mountain 

side. 
Another matter 's brought mc here to you : 

154 



'^'-^ft^ES 




I ^m sent by Juno, to befriend your crew. 
Great dangers still await you on your 

course ; 
Pay strict attention then to my discourse. 
The Wandering Rocks, and Sirens, menace 

you, 
And fearful Scylla and Charybdis, too. 

Now Iris, by command of Juno, fair, 
To old ^olus, will at once repair. 
And bid him quiet all the winds that blow, 
Except a steady west wind, even so. 
And, then old Vulcan she will next entreat 
To close his forge, and thus dispel the heat. 
Disperse the clouds of smoke from off the 

sea, 
So that the Argo, sailing fast and free. 
May with less danger thus pursue her way. 
If Vulcan and -^olus both obey. 

Now when the Sirens^ island you draw 

near, 
Bid Orpheus play and sing both loud and 

clear. 
To drown the voices of the Sirens fair. 
So sweet, enchanting, are their voices, rare, 
Seductive, too, no man would count the 

cost. 
But, landing there, forever would be lost. 
My nymphs will guide you through the 

Wandering Rocks, 
And guard you from their awful clashing 

shocks. 

155 







HEN Scylla and Charybdis 
yet remain^ 
Such terrors you will never 

meet again ; 
For Scylla hath six mouths 
well-armed with teeth, 
And woe to him that passeth underneath. 
And on a cliff she dwells, within a 

cave, 
Round which the angry waters rush and 

rave. 
And opposite, a rock between the tides. 
Is where the dread Charybdis ever hides. 
Her mouth ^s a fearful whirlpool, wide and 

deep, 
Through which the circling waters surge 
and leap; 
But, I will hold the Argons rudder 
straight, 
And guide her safely through the narrow 

gate. 
And thus your greatest dangers will be 

passed, 
And you will reach the shores of Greece, 

at last. 
It happens that the luckiest thing in life. 
For you, is that a water-nymph's your 

wife. 
And now, good-bye — but one thing do not 

do. 
Don't point me out to any of the crew. 

150 



^'^fl%ES 




EMEMBER me to Chiron, when 
you meet ; 
He must be careful of Achilles^ 
feet; 
He ^s proof against all ills, except one heel. 
And much solicitude for that I feel. 
Instead of sandals, make for him strong 

shoes. 
Which, for his mother^s sake he ^11 not re- 
fuse. 
Now Peleus, again PIl say good-bye; 
The fact is, I am feeling kind o* dry ; 
My fins are curling up, as you can see,' 
And then headlong she plunged into the sea. 

Now, Peleus related all he M heard 
To Jason and the crew, and they averred 
*T were best to try to carry out the plan 
Devised by Juno ; and at once began 
To tauten stays and braces for the trip; 
Put everything in order on the ship. 

Next day the west wind blowing fresh 
and free, 
The Argo once again put out to sea. 
Her pennon floated proudly from the mast ; 
The sea was smooth, the Argo sailing fast ; 
And sailing fast and free by day and night, 
At length a little island hove in sight. 
And then a cliff, and beach of yellow 

sand. 
Then cool and shady groves upon the 
land. 



157 






HE breath of orange blos- 
soms filled the air; 
Delicious fragrance floated 

everywhere ; 
Enchanting music sweetly 
rose and fell, 
Responsive to the rhythmic ocean swell ; 
And softly stealing o^er the fragrant sea, 
In cadence soft, the strangest melody 
Came tripping, rippling, o'er the ocean 

tide— 
The Sirens* song — the sailor's willing 

bride. 
Their lovely forms displayed beneath the 

trees ; 
Their love songs borne upon the summer 
breeze : 
"O, sailors bold, come rest ye here 

awhile ; 
love's sweet dalliance your hours be- 
guile; 
Our arms are soft and white; our kisses 

sweet; 
O, sailors, come and rest in love's retreat." 
Then toward the land Ancaeus steered 
the ship. 
Medea then to Jason's side did slip : 
" O, Jason, take the helm at any cost; 
Steer out to sea, or we are surely lost." 
And Atalanta cried to Orpheus : 
*' Strike up your lyre and loudly sing to us ; 



158 



'-'-^ftSzs 



And sing of Greece, and wives and sweet- 
hearts, there ; 

And let your voice and lyre fill all the 
air; 

Crowd out and drown those songs of vile 
deceit; 

For death, not love, lurks in their dread re- 
treat/' 
Then Jason boldly took the helm and 
steered. 

And toward the open sea the Argo veered. 

The song of Orpheus, so loud and clear. 

Did banish other sounds from mind and ear. 

The crew was saved, at least all saved but 
one. 

For ere the song of Orpheus was begun. 

Poor Butes, overcome by Siren's lay. 

Leaped overboard, and quickly swam away. 

But Venus, ere he reached the island shore. 

Descended on a cloud, and Butes bore 

To far off Lilybeum, there to dwell, 

A booty for this beauty, IVe heard tell. 
Anon, the Argo, sailing toward the east, 

Another danger met, and not the least. 

The Wandering Rocks, of which they'd 
heard with dread, 

The heroes saw next day, and fust ahead. 

Fierce flames were belching from a cave 
on shore, 

Though Vulcan's forge was out, and 
smoked no more; 

159 





<c^ 





ND, resting on the hammer 
in his hand, 
The god of fire upon a 

rock did stand. 
He did no work that day, 
it did not suit 
To have the air so black with smoke and 

soot. 
He gazed in wonder as the Argo sailed, 
And then the crew old Vulcan loudly- 
hailed : 
**A bully boat ; a bully crew, as well ! ** 
The heroes gave the Chiron college yell. 

Then sailing on they had enough to do. 
With oars and sail, to guide the Argo 

through 
The Wan a ring Rocks, that loomed on 

every side. 
And rolled and tumbled in the angry tide. 
But now a wondrous sight the crew beheld. 
Which all their dread and fear at once dis- 
pelled : 
For, swimming swiftly at the Argons side. 
And perched on every rolling rock, beside, 
Were countless sea-nymphs, fairest of the 

fair; 
With liquid eyes, and wondrous golden 

hair. 
Their sickle fins glanced brightly in the 

sun, 
Gay fin-de-siede girls, who thought it fun 

160 



^'-^ftsHES 



To fend the Argo with their arms so 

white, 
And ward her from the rocks ; a glorious 

sight. 
And Thetis, swimming swiftly at the 

stern, 
The rudder in her hands did twist and 

turn, 
And safely steered the Argo on her course ; 
The west wind blowing now with increased 

force; 
And Juno, resting on a cloud, above. 
Looked down upon the scene with eyes of 

love. 
Now, safely through the Wandering 

Rocks, at last. 
The Argo, aided by the sea-nymphs, passed. 
Then from the rocks, where they ^d been 

perched in glee. 
The Nereids plunged headlong in the 

sea. 
Then Galatea marshaled them each side 
The Argo, where their arms and fins they 

plied. 
And kept her in the channel, straight and 

true; 
While Thetis at the rudder steered her 

through 
The deep and narrow strait, whose treach- 

Vous tide. 
Did Scylla from Charybdis e'er divide. 

161 








HIS danger passed, again 
the open sea 
Spread out before the 

Argo, sailing free. 
Loud cheers from Jason 
and the crew rang 
out; 
The water-nymphs, like 
dolphins, swam about. 
The heroes manned the gunwales ; kisses 

threw 
To Thetis and her nymphs, as fair as 

true; 
The Nereids then flapped their fins with 

glee. 
Then disappeared beneath the deep blue 
sea. 
Now, sailing past Trinacrian isle, next 
day. 
The sound of bleating sheep came o^er the 

bay; 
Anon, the low of kine came from the shore; 
Then toward the land they bent the labo- 
ring oar. 
But Lynceus, far-sighted, bid them hold : 
** I see,^' said he, ** two maids with crooks 

of gold. 
Who herd the sheep and cattle, white as 

snow. 
With horns of gold, as through green fields 
they go»** 

162 



'^'■^fUlES 



Medea then seemed quite alarmed, and said : 
** Of heroes do not land ; sail on instead. 
From what I Ve heard my father of ttimes 

say, 
These are Phaethusa and Lampetie, 
The daughters of the sun, who tend their 

herds 
On this fair isle/' They wondered at her 

words. 
But turned the ship again and sailed away. 
And Corcyra they reached the following day. 
*T was here the kind Phaeacians dwelt 

in peace ; 
Good friends to all who hailed from sunny 

Greece. 
The king, Alcinous, a welcome true 
Gave Jason and the heroes, whom he knew 
By good report to be most famous men ; 
Ana they were glad to rest ashore again. 
The queen. Arete, also entertained 
Medea and At^lanta ; and was pained 
To hear the story of Medea's flight ; 
But told her what she 'd done was just and 

right. 
In games of skill the heroes spent the 

days; 
The king and court were loud in words of 

praise. 
The people from the country flocked to 

town 
To see these Grecian heroes of renown. 

163 






And priceless gifts and treasures were be- 
stowed ; 

And freely, milk and wine and honey, 
flowed. 



UT lo, one day appeared the 
Colchian fleet ! 
The leader came ashore the 

king to greet. 
The rocks Cyanean theyM 
safely passed, 
And through the mouth of Pontus came at 
last. 
'* The orders of JEtes are,** he said, 
** To find his daughter, who has basely fled ; 
To take her back to Colchis, there to meet 
The penalty of death, for her deceit. 
So, if Medea and the Golden Fleece 
Are given up, a treaty then, of peace. 
Will be prepared, which he will then 

submit ; 
A peace commission formed to sit on it. 
The treaty will provide — a usual thing — 
Indemnity from Jason to the king. 

One item is to pay the cost of hire 
Of two brass bulls, with use of fire ; 
Also, the hire of plow and double yoke ; 
And rent of ground, he with the oxen 

broke ; 
Also the seed with which the ground was 
sown, 




'-'-^iSiLS 



Both rare and priceless, even he will own. 
And then the crop, though reaped with toil 

and care, 
Was left to spoil and rot — at least the share 
Of king iEetes, which he values high. 
Then there ^s the damage to his dragon's 

eye; 
A broken limb, whereon the Fleece once 

hung. 
The choicest tree in all the grove, and 

young. 
The wharfage for the Argo must be paid. 
And recompense for water rights be made. 
Then there 's the sunken ship, though once 

condemned, 
Her price went up as she went down, con- 
temned. 
Then last of all, there comes the wear and 

tear 
Of king Petes' bed and royal chair. 
Whereon he rolled and squirmed, and 

pitched and tossed. 
Since that dark night the Golden Fleece 

was lost. 
Now this the bill of costs the king hath 

made. 
And this the bill of costs that must be paid. 
The treaty will not name the just amount 
That Jason to the king must e'en account. 
To his commissioners the king will trust 
To do his will — in other words, they must. 



165 




^^^^^pj 



r --J 



Y^&OT>3^Shr^~ 





UCH latitude, however, he ^11 
allow — 
Not less than half the lati- 
tude, I trow, 
Of Jason^s kingdom, when 
he takes the throne, 
^T will take to pay the debt, I freely own. 
This hs> the ultimatum of the king ; 
At least the substance — I was told to bring. 
And if the terms are not to Jason's mind. 
And to refuse he seems at all inclined. 
Then I am well prepared, and will enforce 
The just demands of ^etes, of course. 
My battle ships are anchored in the bay ; 
The Argo's bottled up — can't get away." 
Then king Alcinous looked vexed and 
frowned, 
'* You know," said he, '* that this is neutral 

ground ; 
One day in port you are compelled to stay. 
Should Jason wish to leave and sail away. 
He is my guest and ally, for the nonce ; 
Your ultimatum I'll report, at once; 
And ukimately I will arbitrate 
Between you both, and my decision state. 
Which will be final, and you must comply; 
Not yours to kick, nor ask the reason why. 
Now order what you please to cat or drink ; 
I must have time to cogitate and think. 

And now my army I must mobilize, 
A numerous mob, at present, I surmise. 
lee 




^-%*^ 



'^''m&Es 



/i2^ 



I have more soldiers than I really need^ 

I wish that half were killed or dead^ indeed. 

Large standing armies are a great expense, 

And I have several millions for defense/' 

Alcinous then took a formal leave, 

A large smile lurking in his royal sleeve. 

The captain of the fleet was sore dismayed; 

In other words he felt somewhat afraid. 
Now Jason, when he heard the terms 
proposed, 

Waxed very wroth, and even seemed dis- 
posed 

To fight the fleet with his one ship, alone ; 

To this the heroes, one and all, were prone. 

Alcinous, however, urged delay ; 

Said he would arbitrate the following day ; 

Reluctantly the heroes did consent. 
Medea to the queen. Arete, went ; 

With tearful eyes did importune her aid. 

" Have pity, queen, O pity me, poor maid ; 

O do not let them send me back,** she 
cried; 

** O do not take me from my Jason's side. 

He's all I have; and I'm to be his wife. 

If taken back, I'll surely loose my life." 

The queen, much moved, said she would 
intercede 

With king Alcinous, and try, indeed. 

To form some plan whereby to circumvent 

Her Colchian foes, who for her death were 
bent. 



167 





HE queen then hastened to 
her lord, the king, 
And said : ** My dear, do n*t 

let them do this thing ; 
Do n*t let them take this poor 
maid back to die. 
We rather should commend her, you and I, 
For what she*s done for noble Jason's 

sake; 
Now, hubby, this poor maid, don't let them 




Suppose that I should thus be forced from 

you — 
Now what would then be right for you to 

do." 
The king then thought it over in his 

mind: 
'* My dear," said he, ** her case is not that 

kind. 
If she were Jason's wife, 't is very clear, 
I should insist on her remaining here. 
For king ^etes then would have no claim, 
Though she would be his daughter all the 

same. 
But she would owe allegiance to her lord ; 
To him who furnished clothes and bed and 

board." 
"O, thank you," said the queen, ** you've 

made it clear ; 
Now, kiss me, sweet ; you 're such a duck, 

my dear ! " 

108 





^^^^tsflES 



Now queen Aretes' plan -was quickly 

formed ; 
Medea, also Jason, she informed: 
**Your wedding must take place without 

delay; 
The king, himself, will givz the bride 

away — 
He's good at giving things away," she 

said, 
**' T was he that put this nice plan in my 

head* 

Medea, you will wear my wedding dress. 
No time to make a trousseau, now, I guess. 
At'Ianta will be bridesmaid, none so fair ; 
And I, myself, will dress your golden hair. 
Now, I must go and see about the cake; 
And all the other preparations make. 
The wedding will take place this afternoon. 
And after that begins the honey-moon. 
Let Orpheus compose the wedding hymn ; 
Have everything in order, nice and trim. 
Now, in the holy cave down by the 

sea, 
Where Macris once did dwell with honey- 
bee, 
The maidens of the queen did there prepare 
The bridal chamber for the happy pair. 
The walls made gay with silken curtains 

hung, 
Festoons of orange blossoms o'er them 

strung ; 



169 





c^^ 





With bridal wreaths 

flecked, 
The honey-scented grotto was bedecked. 
The bridal couch of sandal wood was 

made, 
And on it softest skins and pelts were laid, 
With robes of precious silks, and white 

swanks down, 
And fine, fair linen then the whole did 

crown. 
The Golden Fleece was then laid over all, 
And through the holy, sacred, rocky hall 
It shed a radiance sweet, divinely fair. 
Its steady, golden sheen beyond compare. 
And strains of music, soft and low and 

sweet. 
And fragrant incense filled the rare retreat. 

The heroes built an altar by the sea ; 
The Argo gently rose and fell, a-lee. 
They slaughtered lambs, and mixed the 

barley meal. 
And to the blessed gods they made appeal 
For health and joy, and happiness through 

life. 
For Jason and his lovely Colchian wife. 
The akar fire, high leaping through the air, 
Threw out upon the sea its ruddy glare ; 
Shone on the sea-nymphs, floating on the 

waves. 
And bringing gifts of amber from their 



caves. 



170 



W LiTrLE 



TITHES 



And gems and corals rare, they also bore. 
And jewels bright, from every sea-girt shore. 
The woodland nymphs brought blossoms, 

pure and white ; 
Their golden hair, and bosoms, were be- 

dight 
With gorgeous flowers of every hue and 

shade. 
By Juno sent, from mountain, glen and 

glade. 
Now, as the deepening twilight closed 

around. 
The wheels of chariots rumbled o^er the 

ground ; 
And in procession moved the happy throng, 
To share the marriage feast, in wine and 

song. 
The royal chariot, with the king and queen. 
Both dressed in royal robes of brighest 

sheen ; 
Then Jason and Medea, happy pair. 
Arrayed in wedding garments rich and 

rare; 
At^Ianta, bridesmaid, radiant as a star. 
And Meleager, groomsman, in their car. 
Then followed maids of honor, sweetly 

dressed ; 
The courtiers of the king, clothed in their 

best; 
With priests and satellites, and warriors 

grim — 

171 





J^^^^^S 





Then Orpheus struck up the wedding 
hymn. 

ND there, beside the ever 

restless sea, 
On which he M sailed with 
baffling winds, and free ; 
Through nights of gloom, 
and sunny days of ease; 
With furious gales, and gentle summer 

breeze ; 
Beside the sea, the Argo in full sight — 
Behold brave Jason on his wedding night I 
And standing proudly by his manly side — 
Behold Medea, Jason's Colchian bride I 
The fairest maid in all the world, was she ; 
The bravest man in all the world, was he. 
For then, as now, both here and every- 
where, 
'T is true — none but the brave deserve the 
fair. 
And then, the altar fire gleaming bright. 
The priests performed the sacred marriage 

rite. 
The king, quite proudly, gave the bride 

away; 
The bride and groom both promised to 

obey, 
And honor, love and cherish; or at least, 
'Twas understood so, by the king and 
priest. 

172 



^^^rknES 



Then Orpheus and all the Argons crew, 
And all the wedding guests, and people, too. 
And all the nymphs, from woodland and 

the sea. 
The marriage hymn sang loud and joyfully. 
Of all the folk assembled at this scene. 
No one was truly happier than the queen. 
The wedding breaWast, she would %iyjz 

next day — 
So king and queen and people went away. 
The heroes all kept guard throughout the 

night, 
With song and cup and speech, till broad 

daylight. 
Next day the wedding breakfast was 

prepared. 
And all the guests, both great and small, 

repaired 
To greet the bride and groom, in banquet 

hall, 
Where they were warmly welcomed, one 

and all. 
By king Alcinous and his loved queen ; 
And bright and gay and joyous was the 

scene. 
Around the tables, spread with sumptuous 

fare. 
Were seated all the guests ; and with them 

there. 
The Captain of the Colchian fleet, as well, 
Who was, in truth, a jolly naval swell. 



173 




•*== 




.^^^P 




By special invitation he was there, 
To sec the king concerning his affair. 




OW Jason and Medea sat 
serene, 
:J, One by the king, the other 
by the queen. 
Medea looked so pretty, and 
' so sweet. 

She charmed the jolly Captain of the fleet. 
**The daughter of the king, she is, no 

doubt,^' 
He thought, and swelled his manly bosom 

out. 
He did not know that she was lately wed. 
The silly Captain thought the royal spread 
Was in his honor, and would soon be told, 
To take Medea and the Fleece of Gold. 
**l will not sail for Colchis, though,*' he 

said, 
** Until this lovely damsel I have wed." 
The king then rose before his royal 
chair. 
And said to all the guests assembled there : 
** The time has now arrived when I should 

state. 
That I a matter was to arbitrate. 
Between ^etes, king of Colchis land. 
And Jason, sitting here, at my right hand. 
Now Jason, with the necessary pull, 
Became entitled to a fleece of wool ; 

174 



F LITTLE 



Possession of the fleece was then withheld. 
Till Jason, by a ruse, was then compelled 
To take the fleece which rightly was his 

own; 
And then he sailed away — but not alone. 

iEetes had a daughter — and has yet — 
Who fell in love with Jason first they 

met. 
She aided Jason to obtain his pelt, 
And then such fear of king iEetes felt, 
That she resolved from home to run away. 
And sailed with Jason, as his fiancee. 
It happens that a week or so ago. 
Came Jason and his ship, as you all know. 
And then again it happens, strange to 

say. 
The Colchian fleet sailed in on yesterday. 
The Captain of the fleet, in duty bound — 
Medea and the fleece both being found — 
Demands them, with indemnity, in full; 
A great cry makes about a little wool. 
And this the case I was to arbitrate ; 
And this the crooked thing to render 

straight. 
Now, yesterday, the case I d{6. review ; 
Called for my law books; searched them 

through and through; 
Compared the legal aspects of the case. 
With wise decisions made in every place ; 
With precedents established by each court, 
In all such cases of retrieve and tort. 

175 





~^^^^^^ 



- r 



Y^&o<Z)S^S^ ^ 




OW, my decision, 

was this ; 
Or would have been, but 

things have gone amiss — 
That Jason should retain the 

fleece of wool ; 
In him the title ^s vested, clear and full. 
And finding nothing legal to prevent, 
Medea to her father should be sent. 
Indemnity from Jason to the king, 
I hold to be a most improper thing. 
The damages alleged, were all incurred 
By Jason in his contract — so averred. 
A contract made by ^etes the king — 
So Jason does not owe him anything. 

Now this decision, made but yesterday, 
Is hardly worth a sou-markee to-day. 
There *s many a slip 'twixt cup and lip, 

't is true ; 
And circumstances alter cases, too. 
Now, yesterday, 't was plain, and in accord 
With all the law : Medea was my ward. 
I, as her legal guardian, did prepare 
Her extradition papers, with much care ; 
Whereas, to-day, I have no legal right. 
In equity, a wife to extradite. 
In common law, or chancery, as well, 
A wife must with her husband ever dwell. 
This knotty problem has at last been solved. 
And from an irksome duty I *m absolved ; 
For Jason cut the Gordian knot last night 

176 



^^^^tshs 



By wedding fair Medea, fast and tight. 

To quiet any doubtt I need but say, 

*T was I, myself, who gave the bride away. 

Medea now is in another state — 
The state of wedlock — with her happy 

mate; 
My jurisdiction's lapsed; 'tis just as well; 
And in that happy state may they long 

dwell. 
Now, just another word, to make things 

clear: 
The Captain of the Colchian fleet is here. 
A man of honor, and a sailor bold. 
He will not take amiss what he 's been told ; 
A miss she is no longer ; sure *s he 's born ; 
He came for wool and goes back badly 

shorn. 
Now pledge we all a brimming cup of wine 
To Jason and his happy bride, divine. 
Now let all care and animosity 
Be drowned in wine, without verbosity." 
The Captain of the fleet then took the 

floor. 
And in his hand a cup of wine he bore : 
** O king, I wish to drink the fair bride's 

health; 
I wish her joy, and happiness, and wealth. 
The lady I have never seen before. 
And seeing her is simply to adore. 
Her modesty and beauty, rare to see. 
Would surely banish evil far from me. 



177 





YE<yo'T)S'^'^ 





ITH her I ne^er would sail to 

Colchis land^ 

Where shame and death 

await her from the hand 

Of king ^etes, lost to every 



sense 



Of manhood^ truth and justice; so from 

hence 
I will not sail to-day^ nor yet next year ; 
For Pving ^etes^ wrath I greatly fear. 
And now King Alcinous, I will swear 
Allegiance to your crown, if you ^11 prepare 
A deed of gift to some fair tract of land, 
Which I will colonize with my command/* 
And so it came to pass, they settled there. 
And lived forever after, free from care. 
The eood ship Argo, Jason and his 

bride, 
The heroes all, once more upon the tide 
Sailed gaily forth ; for now it seemed to be 
A short and pleasant sail to Thessaly. 
Before they sailed, Alcinous, the King, 
Rich stranger^s gifts to all the crew did 

bring, 
With twelve Phaeacian slave girls, dressed 

in green, 
Attendants for Medea, from the queen. 
And now, the huge sail hoisted flat and 

trim. 
The Argo, like a sea-bird, swift did skim 
O^er waters blue, that rippled in the sun ; 

178 




^^ii^ 



i-'-^mEs 



The heroes glad their voyage seemed most 

done. 
By Epirus they coasted, sailing free. 
Ambracia, Arcarnania, passed a-Iee. 
A few days later Lynceus did spy 
The land of Pelops, dimly, 'neath the sky. 
Then all the heroes shouted, cheer on 

cheer, 
To think their longed-for native land was 

near. 
But soon a calm fell on the waters 

bright ; 
The sun, a crimson ball, sunk out of 

sight. 
The sail was furled and lashed upon the 

yard; 
The heroes at the oars were pulling hard ; 
The night grew thick and murky all around ; 
The plashing of the oars the only sound. 
Then suddenly, at midnight, there arose 
A gale tempestuous from the northern 

snows. 
The Argo flew before the chilly blast. 
The black waves rolling high and thick 

and fast. 
Nine days and nights they drove before the 

gale. 
Nine days and nights, without an oar or 

sail. 
Behind them shrieked the tempest-ridden 

breeze; 

179 




^£=^=^=^^^^ 



<c>> 




Y^QfOT^Sr^-^ 




Behind them piled the high tumultuous 



T last, ahead, they heard the 
breakers roar, 
And on a tidal wave were 

cast ashore. 
On Syrtis' sandy shoals, 
both high and dry, 
The Argo, partly buried, now doth Lie. 

The tidal wave, receding from the shore, 
The distant sea is heard and seen no more. 
And stretching all around, on either hand. 
Is nothing to fe seen but shining sand. 
And foam and wrack left by the ruthless 

tide; 
No tree or shrub or rock can be descried. 
The heroes then bemoaned their cruel fate ; 
Their pitiful and helpless, abject state. 
And as the dreary, starless night closed 

'round, 
They threw themselves upon the storm- 
swept ground. 
Each wrapped his cloak about his wretched 

head. 
And waited i©r the dawn, with fear and 

dread. 
Medea and her maidens, in their grief. 
Wept bitter, salty tears ; 't was tneir belief 
That one and all of thirst must surely die 
Upon this barren waste ; this desert dry. 

180 



^'^ftsflES 



Next morning, Jason wandered off, 

alone, 
Across the Libyan desert, tempest strown; 
To think and meditate, perchance aright. 
Some plan devise to help him in this plight. 
At length he covered up his weary head. 
And laid him down, the scorching sand his 

bed. 
Anon, the Libyan goddesses, so fair, 
Who sauntering by, heard moans of grim 

despair ; 
And seeing Jason groveling in the sand. 
Impelled by pity, took him by the hand. 
Then from his yellow curls removed the 

cloak. 
And thus the goddesses to Jason spoke : 
**0, son of ^son, do not be cast 

down; 
Thou wilt not die ; thou yet shalt wear thy 

crown. 
We Ve heard about thy quest for Fleece of 

Gold; 
About thy toils and troubles weVe been 

told. 
We Ve Libyans daughters, warders of her 

land; 
*Tis here we herd our sheep upon the 

strand. 
Now rouse ye Jason, and all fear dispel; 
Be brave and true, and all will yet be 

well. 

181 





'y^G^02)J^~^ 




HEN Amphitritc loosens 

Neptune's car, 
Thy homeward way will 

then be shown afar. 
Then follow with the 

Argo, as seems best, 
And bear her, as she bore 
you, on this quest." 
Thus spoke the goddesses, so fair and 

bright, 
And quickly vanished in the bright sun- 
light. 
Then to his comrades Jason swiftly 
fled. 
And told them all the goddesses had 

said. 
They marveled much, and none knew 

what was meant; 
But all believed the words that had been 

sent. 
When, lo ! ere long, a wondrous sight be- 
hold! 
A monstrous horse with flowing mane of 

gold. 
Came striding toward them from the dis- 
tant sea ; 
And passing swiftly, as on wings, did 

flee. 
Far inland ^cross the desert, and at last, 
Was lost to view. The crew all stood 
aghast. 

182 



W LITTLE 



TISHES 



''Mcthinks/' said Pcleus, ''that Nep- 

tune^s car 
By Amphitrite has been loosed afar. 
That was his off wheel-horse; I know him 

well; 
I Ve often seen him in the ocean swell^ 
When I was courting Thetis by the sea ; 
He *s got a water-blister on one knee/* 
Then Lynceus, of the telescopic eye, 
Said: ''Comrades bold, the horse I still 

descry. 
He *s plunging in the waves of some vast 

lake, 
That lies beyond the course we saw him 

take/* 
"An inland sea, I Ve heard somewhere, 

or read, 
Lies on the Libyan coast/* then Jason said. 
" It follows then, a matter *t is, of course. 
That we should follow after this white 

horse; 
For something red before, perhaps behind, 
Is always near a white horse, you will 

find/* 
Thus Pollux spoke to Atalanta fair. 
Who then was doing up her bright red 

hair. 
" The question now,** quoth Jason, " is 

to take 
The Argo *cross the desert to this lake. 
Just how to do it, we must now decide ! ** 

183 




'^^j 




.^^^^^p 





HERE^S but one way, 
Argus quick replied : 
** We ^11 raise her on our shoul- 
ders, while we slide 
Her keel upon the sand ; and 
thus abide 
By good advice received by you, to-day. 
From guardian goddesses of Libya. '^ 
*^WeTl undergo a great hardship, I 

know,'' 
Said Pollux, ''and our progress will be 

slow/' 
Said Castor : ** I for one do now agree 
To shoulder this responsibility." 

Ancaeus said : ** If Hercules were 
here. 
He 'd push her through the sand, while I 

would steer." 
** Yes, you 're a bunco steerer, I 'II admit," 
Said Idas, ** but old Hercules is nit. 
He'd tell you put your shoulder to the 

boat; 
The problem's not to steer, but how to 

tote." 
'^That's right," said Canthus, ''and I'll 

just observe: 
We've got the sand, and ergo, lots of 

nerve. 
Don't waste your time in talking; don't 

demur ; 
The Argo 's carried us — we '11 carry her ; 

184 




ts-^ 




^'^ftsHES 



On even keel across this sandy waste, 
We ^U carry her with less of speed, than 

haste. 
The track of Neptune's horse is deep and 

straight. 
The only chart we need — an open gate. 
His mane flew out behind, a golden vane 
To point the way — remember, then, the 

mane I ** 
Next day, the heroes fearing now for 

naught, 
The mast and yard secured, both snug and 

taut. 
Along the Argons bilge, on either side; 
And then their shoulders to the spars ap- 
plied. 
And hoisted up the vessel from her bed. 
And so began their journey, with firm tread. 
A task quite easy for this strong command 
On firm, hard ground — but hard upon the 

sand. 
And Orpheus struck loud his golden lyre ; 
Sole-stirring music did the crew inspire. 
Medea and her maids sang hymns of praise ; 
And so they passed twelve long and weary 

days; 
Until, at last, they reached a small salt sea. 
The lake Tritonis, which they hailed with 

glee. 
And soon upon the rippling waves did 

launch 



185 







Y^&OTiS^^ "^ 






HEIR heavy burden^ Argo, 
trim and staunch. 
Then, water for their ves- 
sel having found ; 
For water for themselves 
they searched around. 
rhey 'd emptied all the water jugs before, 
o lighten up the load their shoulders bore. 
For twelve long days they drank but wine 

and mead ; 
So water pure was now an urgent need. 
In searching for a spring *mid rocks and 

trees, 
They found the Garden of Hesperides. 
And there, beneath an apple tree, lay dead. 
The monster serpent, Ladon, with cleft 

head. 
And there, lamenting, were the maidens 

three, 
Erytheis, and ^gle, Hespere ; 
Who, when they saw the heroes drawing 

near. 
To dust and ashes turned, at once, in 
fear. 
Then Orpheus, who knew the marvel 
well. 
Besought them by some sign or word to 

tell, 
Where he might find some spring to quench 

his thirst — 
And all the trials of the crew rehearsed. 

186 




"■^fkflES 



Then from their dust and ashes rose three 

trees, 
From which looked out the fair Hesperides. 
The poplar one, Hespere, in alarm, 
Said : ** Heroes, are you sure you mean no 

harm ? ** 
Erytheis, the elm, peeped from her trunk. 
And meekly said : ** We hope you are not 

drunk/' 
The willow, i^gle, said: ** Don't be too 

free; 
*T is treason rank, to meddle with us three/' 
"O, queens divine," then Orpheus 

sweetly said, 
**We would not harm a hair on either 

head* 
We will not trespass here within your park. 
Nor even carve our names upon your bark. 
We are not tourists, but sea-faring men ; 
We seek but water, and when found, will 

then 
Depart at once, and bless you for your aid/' 
Then ^gle brushed aside her leaves, 

and said : 
** O, heroes, but a day or two ago 
Came Hercules, the monster, whom yc 

know. 
He slew the guardian serpent, 'neath the 

tree; 
And stole the golden apples; then did 
flee. 

187 





r^'^^^ 



*4= 



<C5^ 



'Y^&o<DS^Sh/^^ 




OWN by the lake he smote 

yon great gray rock^ 
And whether from the gods^ 

or from the shocks 
A stream of water burst 
from out the cleft; 
And when heM quenched his thirst, the 

monster left. 
He left us to our grief, to weep alone; 
And thus ye see, weVe troubles of our 

own. 
We^re full of sap, which from our leaves 

drops down. 
And thus, in tears, our grief we fain would 
drown." 
**I see, fair maids," then Orpheus re- 
plied, 
** You Ve cause for grief, and bitterness be- 
side. 
Your orchard ^s robbed, your snake lies 

dead, indeed ; 
But you Ve the apples of our eyes, in need. 
We thank you much, O gracious queens, 

for this. 
And humbly wish that we your bark might 
kiss." 
Quoth -^gle then : **' The kiss \s, under- 
stood ; 
What will you with a kiss of willow wood. 
O, would that ye might see us in the flesh, 
With golden hair, and rosy lips, so fresh. 

188 




LITTLE „ 



I know full well what Hobson^s choice 

would be — 
Instead of kissing bark, why — heM kiss 

Said Pollux: *' What's the use of all this 
fuss? 

You *re barking up the wrong tree, Orpheus. 

For information given, girls, much thanks. 

We *1I now proceed to fill our water tanks.'* 
When all the jars were filled and put 
aboard. 

And peace and quietness once more restored. 

Then Lynceus, Euphemus, Canthus, too, 

Also the sons of Boreas, who flew — 

Searched far and wide, for tracks of Her- 
cules ; 

Far better had they stayed aboard, in 
ease. 

For Canthus, wandering by some sheep, 
alone, 

The shepherd slew him with a heavy 
stone. 

The heroes killed the shepherd, stole the 
herd. 

And Canthus* body in the sand interred. 

And then poor Mopsus, bitten by a snake. 

Soon died; and then another grave they 
make. 

The heroes were cast down with grim de- 
spair ; 

Medea and her maidens tore their hair. 

189 




^^^====^.^^^^ 




Y^&OTiS^^ - 




HREE times around 
the graves, in har- 
ness clad, 
The heroes marched, to 
music slow and sad. 
With heavy hearts 
they went aboard 
the ship; 
And then the cables from the rocks they 

slip; 
And rowing fast, they left the fatal shore, 
And wished that they might see it never 

more. 
And round and round the lake they rowed 

and sailed. 
To find an outlet to the sea, but failed. 
Then making for the land, they went 

ashore ; 
Set up ApoIlo^s tripod, as before. 

Then Triton, in the semblance of a 
youth. 
Appeared before them; in his hand, for- 
sooth, 
A stranger^s gift — naught but a clod of 
earth. 
I give thee what I have — 't is little 
worth.'' 
He said, ** But if you wish to reach, this 

day, 
The open sea, then I can point the 




» "-^fk&ES 



Euphemus gladly took the earthen clod, 
And told their story to the wondering god; 
Who, pointing far across the rippling lake, 
Said: **l will show you, now, the course to 

take* 
Just by the clump of trees upon yon hill, 
Just where the water looks so black and 

still. 
And where the breakers, white, show on 

each side — 
There, is the narrow outlet for the tide. 
The channel lies along the starboard shore. 
For half a league, perhaps a little more; 
Until between two rocks you ^11 see a tree; 
Then leave the coast, and you *11 be all at 

sea/' 
The heroes, rowing swiftly o'er the 

lake. 
They saw the youth Apollo's tripod take. 
And plunging in was quickly lost to view 
Beneath the waves ; while they their course 

pursue. 
But soon old Triton in his proper shape, 
With fins and scales from forked tail to 

nape. 
Appeared beside the ship with jealous care. 
And shook the water from his parsely hair. 
Which sparsely covered this old sea-god's 

head. 
But not so green, as I have somewhere 

read. 

191 







Y^&OT>3^^~^- 





§^LD Triton took the rud- 

^^ dcr in his hand, 

o ci| And deftly steered the 

ship toward the strand ; 

Then safely through the 

narrow inlet passed, 
And out upon the open 
sea, at last. 
Then with a blast upon his huge sea- 

shcll, 
On balanced scales and fins, he wished 
them well. 
Then to the west wind hoisted they the 
sail; 
For several days the west wind did not 

fail. 
The breeze then backed to southward, to 

their joy. 
And steady blew, and fresh, their hopes to 

buoy. 
At length, the isle Carpathus, dimly seen. 
Loomed up, far off, against the sky serene. 
Next day a gladsome sight appeared to 

greet 
The hardy heroes, for the isle of Crete 
Was close aboard; and all prepared to 

land, 
And pass the night upon the welcome 
strand. 
Now, giant Talos, warder of the isle, 
A man of brass, and with a temper vile ; 

192 



L'-^fMiES 



A relic of the bronze age, truly; he, 
Did watch unceasingly across the sea. 
No ship did he allow to come near land, 
But drove them off, with rocks, from his 

strong hand. 
This demi-god was brass from head to 

heel; 
His muscles and his sinews strong as steel ; 
The hardest thing about him was his cheek ; 
But one small place about him was quite 

weak: 
Beside one ankle was a swollen vein. 
Just covered by a skin so thin, 'twas 

plain. 
To wound him in this spot, so varicose. 
Would fatal prove ; at least, so I suppose. 
Now, in the harbor, Argo proudly 

sailed. 
When from a cliff old Tabs loudly hailed : 
** Keep off ! keep off ! " he cried in thunder 

tones. 
And emphasized his vile remarks with 

stones. 
He broke great chunks of rock from off 

the crag; 
And huge stones from their earthy beds did 

drag; 
And hurled them toward the ship with aim 

so true. 
That quickly out of range, the crew with- 
drew. 



193 





c^ 



c>> 



Y^&0'j)3^~^'^ 





ND Pollux then to Jason 

sadly said : 
*^We can not land until 

this monster ^s dead. 
Too bad it is that men of 
flesh and blood 
Are kept at bay, and drifting on its flood, 
By this one man of brass — a brazen heap. 
Who rocks us in the cradle of the deep. 
That men of mettle, by this metal cad, 
Are thus withstood — I say, it is too bad.'* 
^**Tis true,*^ Medea then to Jason 
said, 
**We can not land till this brass giant's 

dead. 
Now, IVe a potent charm that can not 

fail 
To bring disaster, even death entail. 
To all things made of brass, for you well 

know 
The brazen bulls, by you were conquered 

so. 
Now I will go below and work the charm ; 
Do you the vessel keep just cut of harm ; 
And sailing off and on, and full and by. 
With gibes and taunts the brazen man 

defy; 
To make him angry you must do your 

best. 
For whom the gods destroy — you know 
the rest." 

194 





^'^fts^ES 



'HE heroes followed this advice, 
so saj?:e; 
Old Talos was beside himself 
with rage; 
And in his anger, rushing for a stone. 
He gashed the vein beside his ankle-bone ; 
But in his frenzy, gave it little heed; 
In torrents did the severed vessel bleed. 
At last, the brazen giant grew so weak. 
He could not cast a stone — he could not 

speak; 
But swayed and reeled and tottered on the 

crag; 
And quivering, trembling, like a wounded 

stag. 
His limbs gave way, and down his body 

dashed ; 
Far down upon the rocks below he crashed. 
With Talos dead, now everything was 

right. 
And so the heroes slept ashore that night. 
Next morn, at dawn, by faint light of 

the stars, 
The heroes filled again the water jars. 
And to the mild south wind they set the 

sail, 
E^en as the morning star began to pale. 
As o^er the gulf of Crete they sailed 

along. 
Their lightsome hearts found vent in merry 

song. 

195 







OR now their souls were 
filled with joy and peace ; 
For soon^ O soon, theyM 
sight the shores of Greece. 
At night the full, round 
moon rose o^er the sea ; 
The dolphins sported in her light with glee ; 
The merry waves caressed the Argons 

prow, 
And broke in silver spray about the bow. 

Medea laid her head on Jason's breast ; 
And he her moonlit, golden hair, caressed. 
** Medea, love,'^ he said, "we^ll soon be 

home, 
No more on earth or sea to sail or roam. 
In happiness we *11 spend our future days, 
With none to censure; all to love and 

praise. 
The Golden Fleece is won, and by your 

aid; 
My queen will be most welcome, too,'' he 

said. 
** Together we will rule my people, dear. 
And live, henceforth, devoid of strife or 
fear.'^ 
The best laid plans of mice and men, 
they say, 
Don't always suit the gang, in every way. 
For soon the moon was hidden by a cloud ; 
The stars were folded in night's sable 
shroud ; 

190 



^•^fkfii^s 



And inky blackness clothed the sky and 

sea; 
And soon there was no windward, and no 

lee. 
The breeze died out, nor left the slightest 

breath; 
And everything was still and black as 

death. 
And even Lynceus now failed to spy 
His hand, when held before his X-ray eye. 
And silently the Argo drifted now ; 
But whether port or starboard, stern or 

bow, 
Not even Lynceus could tell 'the crew. 
They held their breath — ^twas all that 

they could do. 
Then Jason raised aloft his hands and 

prayed; 
And called on Phoebus, for his timely aid. 
He supplicated Juno, heaven^s queen, 
To shed a ray of light upon the scene. 
And long and earnestly did he implore ; 
He prayed as he had never prayed before. 

Then suddenly a light illumed the sky ; 
So bright that each was fain to shade his 

eye; 
And on a rock, revealed by this bright 

glow — 
Apollo stood, and in his hand, his bow I 
And from his golden bow the radiant light 
Dispelled the murky blackness of the night. 

197 



__^^ 





'Y^&oXfS^S^ ^'^i 





NC^US then discov- 
ered they were near 
The little isle Hippuris ; 

and did steer 
Straight for its welcome 

harbor, in the light. 
The crew bent to their 
oars with all their 
might; 
And then when safely anchored in its bay, 
Apollo waved his bow, and flew away. 
Next morn the grateful heroes built a 
shrine, 
In honor of the radiant god divine. 
They also built an altar on the strand ; 
And searched the island through, on every 

hand, 
For sheep or oxen for the sacrifice ; 
But finding none, pure water must suffice. 
Of this, they poured libations on the fire; 
The hissing steam arose as high, or higher. 
Than from a sacrificial bull or sheep. 
The motive, not the means, still means a 
heap. 
It made Medea^s handmaids laugh and 
jest; 
^T was such a curious sacrifice, at best. 
They M seen great herds of cattle sacrificed, 
By king Alcinous, and were surprised 
To see the heroes put the fire out. 
By pouring water on ; it made them shout. 

198 



W LITTLE 



riSHES 




The heroes laughed in turn; and since 

that day, 
Some women jest whene'er their husbands 

pray. 
Aboard once more, they sailed 'neath 

cloudless skies, 
And proudly now, the Argons pennon flies. 
And sailing smoothly on, at length they 

reach 
-^gina, where they anchored near the 

beach. 
And when they went ashore their jars to 

fill. 
There then arose a strife — the custom 

still; 
Each hero strove to fill his jar and race 
Back to the ship, and try to win first place. 
Euphemus, fleet of foot, of course, was 

first ; 
But near the ship he stopped to quench his 

thirst ; 
And Atalanta passed him with her jug. 
And won the race and prize — a golden 

mug. 
And since that day, the Myrmidons of 

Thrace, 
With jugs of water on their shoulders, race. 

The handicap in racing first begun, 
In carrying jugs of water on the run. 
*T was instituted by an Argonaut; 
And still we race, though with a jug or not. 

199 





<4= 




^^^p 




<c^ 





iGINA, left astern, 

Argo sailed, 

With wind and weather 

fair, which never failed. 

No more adventures did 

the heroes meet; 

But sailing ever on, and 

ever fleet, 

They passed the land of Cecrops; Aulis, 

too; 
The towns of the Opuntian Locri, view. 
And so, at last, upon a sunny day. 
They anchored, once again, at Pagasae ! 
'Twas in the afternoon, they moored 
the ship. 
Much battered by the long, eventful trip; 
But staunch and tight, and classed A 

No. J; 
Her figure-head, unmarred, still brightly 

shone. 
The heroes now prepared to go ashore ; 
They soon would part, and some would 

meet no more. 
They packed their kits, and dressed them 

in their best, 
In honor of the ending of the quest. 

Then Jason sent Euphemus, who was 
fleet, 
To lolchos, king Pelias to greet. 
To tell that heM returned again to 
Greece, 

200 



LITTLE „ 
^ TI5HES 



And with him brought the famous Golden 

Fleece. 
And to remind the king, in view of this, 
His resignation would not be amiss. 
In fact, it was the proper thing to do, 
Since Jason had performed his mission, 

true. 
But if he did not choose, thus to vacate ; 
And seemed inclined to halt, or vacillate ; 
A writ, then, of ejectment, would be served. 
AH legal forms would strictly be observed. 

A posse comttatus, sixty strong. 
Of sunburnt heroes, quick to right the 

wrong. 
Would then proceed pugnis et calctBus, 
To execute the writ so just ; and Jus 
Proprtetatts they would then decide. 
With Jus possessionis too, implied ; 
This would be done pro bono publico ; 
He must be fired; then put out, 

know. 
And furthermore, the king, he 

tell, 
That, heretofore, he ruled not 

well. 
That Jason now proposed a government, 
To which the governed would ^vsfz their 

consent; 
If of, and by, and for, the people all, 
A government would always stand, not 

fall. 

201 



1,.. 








UPHEMUS 

the people^ too, 
That Jason, some such 
scheme had then in 
view. 
And with Medea^s coun- 
sel and advice, 
He *d rule in such a way 
as would suffice. 
Commissioner Euphemus went to town, 
And had a secret session with the crown. 
His mission he performed with sense and 

tact; 
For he was bom a diplomat, in fact. 
The king was sorely vexed, and troubled, 

too; 
Nonplussed, and fearful; knew not what 
to do. 
He said that he M been sick for many 
a day; 
And did not see how he could go away. 
''To tell the truth,'' he said, ''IVe got the 

grippe. 
Tell Jason he must stay aboard his ship. 
My doctor has forbidden me to speak 
On any subject, for at least, a week. 
Some day, when better able to be out ; 
And when the weather's warmer, I've no 

doubt, 
My doctor will permit an interview 
With Jason and his brave, courageous crew. 

202 



^'''^hHES 



At present^ he advises me to wear 

My crown both night and day; for \ would 

impair 
My health, and give me cold, to take it 

off; 
And make much worse my hacking, rack- 
ing cough. 
I know it is a saying in the town : 
* Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown; * 
To take it off, I could not lie at all ; 
Pd feel light-headed, that^s the truth, and 

falL 
I ^m glad you called, but now I Ve talked 

enough. 
For I must go and take my doctor^s stuff/* 
Euphemus then replied: **0 mighty 

king, 
I think that Jason will not do a thing 
To you, that would increase your cough or 

cold; 
In fact, he *d make it warm, with Fleece of 

Gold. 
One thing before I go, Td like to say. 
Because we may not meet another day : 
Small acorns from large oak trees always 

fall. 
And sometimes, with them, little nuts of 

gall; 
Not always, though, for gall sometimes we 

find 
When least expected, in the human mind.** 

203 





Y^&O'DS^^ 




UPHEMUS then with- 
drew and slammed 
the door; 
For Pelias would soon 
be king^ no more. 
He hied him then unto 
the public square ; 
And soon a crowd of 
people gathered there ; 
To whom he told the story of the quest ; 
Of Jason^s promises ; and did his best 
To favor Jason in the public eye ; 
And Pelias, he boldly did decry. 
He then invited all to come next day, 
To welcome Jason, at the harbor bay. 
^^ Hurrah! for Jason; and for Jason's 

right!'' 
The people cried and shouted, in their 
might. 
Next morn the populace were all on 
hand. 
And waiting anxiously upon the strand. 
In holiday attire they all were dressed ; 
Each man and woman strove to look his 

best. 
The story of the Fleece, they all had heard — 
Euphemus told them all that had occurred — 
And now they came to welcome back the 

crew. 
Who'd sailed so many months the ocean 
blue. 

204 




"^^^w 



Whose mighty deeds of valor were re-told ; 

Who ^d brought again to Greece the Fleece 
of Gold. 
And gilded cars and chariots and wains, 

Came lumbering down the roads, and 
through the lanes, 

To carry up the Argonauts to town ; 

Those weather-beaten heroes of renown ; 

Who at the word, assembled at the 
wales ; 

I must admit that all description fails, 

To give a good idea, true and right. 

Of that imposing, gay and glorious sight. 
The Argo showed her port side to the 
shore ; 

Thrust through each port-hole was a blade 
of oar ; 

An Argonaut, erect, stood on each blade; 

The rest were on the gilded wale arrayed. 

Thus, in three ranks, the heroes were dis- 
posed; 

Each rank above the other stood disclosed ; 

Their burnished shields and helmets gleam- 
ing bright. 

Reflected from the sun long rays of light. 

And Jason and Medea, happy pair; 

The twelve Phaeacian maids, with golden 
hair. 

In silken raiment, stood upon the stem ; 

A group toward which admiring glances 



turn. 



205 




^f^=^^^^ 




Y^&0'2)S^Sh>^^ 




USPENDED on a 
cross-bar, banncr- 

A wondrous sight now 
met the people's 
eyes — 
The Golden Fleece, the 
object of the quest ; 
And this the sight the people liked the 
best. 
Then from ten thousand throats upon 
the shore, 
There came a sound, much like the ocean's 

roar. 
The people waved their scarfs, and shouted 

loud; 
And ne'er before was such a happy crowd. 
A welcome warm to Jason and his bride, 
And to the heroes, came from every side. 
*' Long life to Jason, king of lolchos ! " 
They cried, as up their caps and staves they 
toss. 
Long live Medea I " ** Long life to our 
queen ! " 
O, never was there such a loyal scene. 
Each hero then was welcomed by his 
name; 
For each and all were long well-known to 

fame. 
The soldiers of the king took great delight, 
In cheering one and all by name, aright. 

206 



^'^4&5 



_^=^ 



At^Ianta was the favored one of all; 

And judging from the shouts — queen of the 

bawl! 
The Argo then was rowed upon the 

beach. 
The heroes disembarked; and then was 

each 
Invited on the platform, or grand stand, 
their honor on the strand. 

formal speech of welcome then was 



Erected 
The 



made. 



** I point with pride/^ and so forth, then was 

said. 
**This is the proudest moment of my 

life!'' 
Of course was said by Jason and his wife. 
But now a restive movement in the 

throng, 
Caused him to stop, and wonder what was 

wrong. 
What caused that rumbling noise — that 

distant shout ? 
Then toward the town all eyes were turned, 

in doubt. 
A cloud of dust was rolling down the road; 
A man was driving fast, with lash and 

goad. 
The crowd gave way, as he came rushing 

by; 
Up to the stand he drove, with flashing 

eye — 

207 








Y^Qfo<DS^^ 




The driver, car and horses of the king ! 

HY drive so fast ? 
What message do 
you bring ? ^* 
Euphemus asked. 
** What have you got 
to say ? 
Come, say it quick; 
we ^11 have no more 
delay'/' 
King Pelias is dead ! '' the man replied ; 
That's why I took this little pleasure 

ride!'' 
Dead drunk, you mean," then Pollux, 
smiling said. 
"He's dead de facto; dead as herring 

red!" 
Replied the man, and mopped his reeking 
brow; 
Dead as a door-nail, I assure you, now ! " 
** How did it happen ? Tell us all you 

know; 
You drive quite fast, but speak too all-fired 

slow, 
Euphemus said, in his impatient way. 
The man took breath, and then went on 
to say: 
"The king was left alone; for all but 

me 
Left town this morning early, for the sea. 

208 




^'-^flSlES 




We were the only two left in the town. 
He kept me home to polish up the crown. 
He owed me six months wages, which he 

said, 
He M pay to-night, if I ^d stay by his bed. 
His doctor, even, left him, I declare — 
I see him now, sir, standing over there. 

ELL, just about an hour ago, 

or more, 
I took him up his mail, which 
looking o^er, 
He found a box of powders, with a note ; 
IVe got it here — and this is what was 
wrote : 
*To knock that tired feeling out of 
sight; 
To make the whiskers black, instead of 

white ; 
To make an old man young without de- 
lay; 
One powder must be taken, every day.* 
** Then Pelias remarked : * F 11 go you 
one; 
FlI take one now, in water, just for 

fun; 
I dreamed about this very thing last night ; 
And that convinces me that its all right/ 
And then he took the powder, sure enough; 
And smacked his lips, and then said: 
'That^s the stuff r 

209 





wi: 




Y^&o<D3^^ ~^ 





UT soon he said 

like one on fire ; 
Said : * Give me water, 

or I must expire ! ' 
And then he drank a 
g^allon, maybe more ; 
And then lay on his bed, 
and tried to snore ; 
And failing that^ he then began to kick ; 
Kicked all the bed-clothes off, and then the 

tick; 
And then he kicked the stuffing out the 

bed; 
But soon he kicked no more — for he was 
dead/^ 
Euphemus asked the doctor ♦ " Do you 
think 
He died of poison, or from too much 

drink ?^' 
** Heart failure, I should say/^ he then re- 
plied. 
** That could not be the cause from which 

he died/' 

Put in the man, ** For Pelias had no heart. 

Kick failure, I should call it^ for my part/' 

Medea smiled a knowing smile, 'tis 

said, 

When this poor man proclaimed the king 

was dead. 
She'd sent some mail the day before, to 
town, 

210 



i-'mfiES 



By Euphcmus, directed to the crown. 
But whether it the powder did enclose — 
That, no one, but the sender, really knows. 
The man, resuming, then said: '^I 

have here 
His crown and scepter, for to me *twas 

clear. 
That I should hold them for my six month's 

pay; 
In fact, it seemed to me the only way. 
The king had pledged to pay, in full, to- 
night; 
I think you^Il grant, in this, that I am 

right. 
The crown and scepter I as pledges 

hold. 
Until Pm reimbursed, or they'll be 

sold/' 
Then Jason paid the man in full, and 

more; 
Who then the royal emblems did restore. 
The Councillor of the king then rose; 

said he: 
*^A pleasant duty now devolves on me. 
For Pelias, usurper, being dead. 
The crown must now be placed on Jason's 

head. 
I know that this vast concourse is aware. 
That Jason is his father -/Eson's heir ; 
And >Eson being dead, I 'm proud to say. 
That Jason will be crowned without delay. 



211 




**== 




r^^'^-m^ 




Y^&o<D3^ 





' LL useless ceremony we ^11 
dispense. 
And this I wish to say with- 
out offense. 
The time and place and 
man are here, you see ; 
It is most opportune, you 'II all agree. 
And as we can not live without a king ; 
I '11 now proceed to do the proper thing.'' 
And then he placed the crown on Jason's 
head; 
And in his hand the scepter placed, then 

said: 
" By virtue of my office, I declare. 
That Jason's now the king, as -^son's 

heir; 
The king of lolchos, in Thessaly! 
Long may he live and reign o'er you and 

me. 
The king is dead — and now Long Live 

the King! 
The Golden Fleece to all good luck will 
bring ! " 
The people shouted loud — the heroes 
cheered ; 
While in the bay the water-nymphs ap- 
peared ; 
For they were loyal to the new king's 

cause, 
And clapped their hands, in token of ap- 
plause. 

212 



» i-'miiEs 




While wood-nymphs from the mountain 

side stole down ; 
With flowers and leaves they strewed the 

road to town. 
Then Jason and Medea, king and 

queen, 
The finest royal couple ever seen, 
Rode in the car of state; the Golden 

Fleece, 
Hung o^er their heads, an emblem now of 

peace. 
The heroes and the councillors of state ; 
The prominent officials, wise and great; 
In gilded vans and wains, a pageant fine. 
Were followed by the multitude in line. 
Then through the city gates to palace 

hall. 
Where Jason and Medea welcomed all. 
And then a week of feasting, and of bliss. 
Another week of games then followed this. 
So ends the quest of Jason for the 

Fleece ; 
And so begins his reign of Golden peace. 





DEC 191900 



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